Dozens of military-painted vehicles of various models drove silently down the road. More than two hours had passed since the recruit training camps of Regiment 425, Regiment 491, and several others had set out.
Aside from the lead driver and each regiment's recruit camp head instructor, no one knew the destination.
Their outdoor field training had previously been delayed by the battle in Area 1123 and the subsequent blockade, but because this course was vital for future live combat, it had to be made up.
"What's this?"
Inside the jostling jeep, Lao Jian looked down at the mission order in his hand, his brow furrowing immediately.
Han Qingyu had just handed it to him.
The order instructed Han Qingyu to lead a group to tail two suspected Cleansing Faction operatives whom Qi Shantong had deliberately left behind during the purge, and to attempt to locate their stronghold.
"Less than ten minutes before we set off today, they called me over secretly and handed it to me as a temporary assignment," Han Qingyu explained.
"The question is, why you? You're a green recruit… Logically, the army shouldn't be short on people for this." Discontent edged Lao Jian's voice as he glanced at the bottom of the mission order.
The signature in the issuing officer line belonged to Qi Shantong. As the Chief Combat Training Instructor, he did indeed have the authority to assign recruits temporary missions, whether out of genuine necessity or merely for the purpose of a trial.
Beneath that was the special official seal of the army.
Since this stamp was on it, Commander Lu Wuzheng had to be aware of it at the very least.
"They said that because of that deputy director of the Information Center who spent over a decade infiltrating us, the current situation in the Ninth Army is quite complicated. Since I'm a recruit and happen to be leaving the base under the guise of field training, it's more convenient for me to tail them."
"They also asked you to help provide cover so no one finds out I didn't actually participate in the field training."
Han Qingyu said the two sentences in succession.
"So your mission… is just to follow them to their location, right?" Lao Jian looked at Han Qingyu, confirming the objective.
"That's what they said," Han Qingyu replied.
"Fine. Then check your gear and your comms, and remember—don't try to be a hero under any circumstances. Safety comes first. Whether the mission succeeds or fails really isn't that important."
Han Qingyu nodded. "Understood."
"By the way, who are you taking with you?" Lao Jian certainly couldn't leave. The first person that came to mind was Milla, but she was a foreigner and stood out far too much.
As for the newly selected instructors, they were not yet a hundred percent trustworthy.
"He Tangtang and Liu Shiheng. I've already spoken to them," Han Qingyu said.
Lao Jian froze. He could understand He Tangtang; after all, the kid had a B+ degree of fusion, and although he seemed rough around the edges, he was actually quite shrewd—a trait discovered back on the night of the meat snatching.
However… "Liu Shiheng? That guy who's always trying to avoid risking his life?"
"Yeah. He figured sticking with me is safer than staying behind here with you guys alone."
"……"
"It won't just be the three of us. They said someone else will be driving to meet and support us."
"All right." Lao Jian reached out, flicked the mission order with his finger, folded it, and tucked it away. "When are you leaving?"
"At noon, while everyone's eating their march rations. We'll slip away quietly."
"Good." Lao Jian thought for a moment before adding, "Remember, prioritize safety above all else. If anything looks off, just run."
Blood Doll, a man who had spent his entire life stubbornly meeting things head-on, had given Han Qingyu his first official lesson on battlefield decisions: run.
Han Qingyu looked at him and nodded.
***
"Is that the car?"
Around one in the afternoon, having changed into ordinary jackets and pants, Han Qingyu and the other two crouched near the rendezvous point, observing a civilian minivan parked there.
"Should be." After roughly confirming the surroundings were safe, Han Qingyu dialed the comm. "Roll down the window, please."
Soon, the front window slid down. Han Qingyu didn't bother taking a close look and said directly, "The rear window too."
"Rear window my ass!" A somewhat cocky voice came through the comm. "Damn it, Qingzi, it's me!"
"Plague Chicken?"
"Yup."
"Why is it you?"
"How should I know?" Wen Jifei said. "Qi Shantong sent someone to bring me over and asked if I knew how to drive… Well, I knew a little from before, and lately Milla said that if I wanted to go to the frontline I could practice driving on the side, so I have been practicing… I said yes, and they told me to come. I guess they figured that as far as you're concerned, I'm the most trustworthy."
Han Qingyu: "……"
*Trustworthy my ass,* he thought. *You're a Dice.*
*So what exactly is Qi Shantong playing at?* Han Qingyu wondered.
"Can't you come down before we talk?" Plague Chicken's impatient voice came through the comm again.
"All right."
Han Qingyu led Liu Shiheng and He Tangtang down the slope and got into the van.
"Whoa!" Liu Shiheng gasped the moment he stepped inside.
"How come… you brought her along too?" Han Qingyu was also surprised. As he spoke, he turned to look at S-19, Shen Yixiu, sitting in the back behind the tinted windows.
"I called her myself! Do you think I'm stupid? A Dice running around out here alone—of course I need a bodyguard," Wen Jifei said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, no one tells her what to do… and she's fierce."
Han Qingyu considered it and felt that made a lot of sense.
"The problem is, you didn't bring along that little handler of hers!" Liu Shiheng said, both confused and anxious. "So who's going to control it now? How do we give it orders? Do you know how to do that?!"
"That… isn't necessary. She has an automatic mode. She's in it right now," Wen Jifei said.
"Automatic mode? What if a chaotic melee breaks out? How does it tell friend from foe?" He Tangtang interjected with a string of questions. "It's not going to attack indiscriminately, is it? I definitely can't take a hit from that."
"Uh, here's how it works." Wen Jifei suddenly leaned in, adopting a secretive posture, and whispered, "Her current command setting designates me as the protectee… So if a chaotic fight breaks out, as long as you guys yell 'Daddy' at me, over and over, she'll protect you."
He Tangtang: "……"
Liu Shiheng: "……"
"Anyway, that's how it's set. Nothing I can do about it. Whether you yell it or not when the time comes is up to you." Having finished, Wen Jifei turned back around.
Sitting close by at that moment, Han Qingyu heard the muffled sound of the girl inside the metal suit desperately trying to hold in her laughter.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. S-19 is Azure's cutting-edge technology—she's completely autonomous," Han Qingyu said. "What's more, she can talk and laugh."
Liu Shiheng sneered. "Bullshit. Like hell it's that amazing. You're the one who's talking—"
S-19: "Khu, khukhukhu…"
Liu Shiheng and He Tangtang froze instantly, then looked at each other. Inside the van, aside from the giggling and the stifled chuckles, there was dead silence.
***
The minivan drove to the designated location and remained parked at an intersection in a small county town until night fell.
Finally, the suspected target vehicle appeared.
Liu Shiheng, who had better driving skills, took over behind the wheel from Plague Chicken and began casually tailing the car.
It wasn't until past two in the morning that the car finally stopped.
The location was on the edge of another county town, along a somewhat dilapidated street. Perhaps due to a collective relocation or some other reason, the signboards were worn down and the shops had all ceased business.
Chapter 84