Seeing Team Leader Lu agree, Commissioner Qu's expression softened slightly.
He said with heartfelt earnestness, "Team Leader Lu, this is part of the grand plan. Countless comrades across the globe have poured their sweat and lives into it, striving toward this goal. We cannot afford any slipup on our end.
"Once this plan succeeds, our Resistance Front will finally possess a true foundation to stand upon in this world."
Team Leader Lu nodded silently. He knew the entire endeavor was called "Operation Spring Dawn," a grand initiative capable of turning the tide and completely transforming the resistance's position.
For this plan, members of resistance organizations across the globe had joined together and taken part, an effort spanning more than a decade on and off.
Resistance organizations in each country were responsible only for their designated piece. Word had it that over half the plan had already been achieved. There had been failures as well as successes, yet it had pressed forward without cease.
And what their branch was responsible for right now was stealing an extraordinarily important object from within Center City. He did not know what it was, only that if they pulled it off, it would add another crucial piece to the Resistance Front's puzzle.
So many years of struggle, the hopes of the entire front—it could all be said to ride on this grand plan. Thus, even if high command was pushing forward aggressively, no individual's personal sentiments or objections could stand in its way.
Besides, even if he refused to do it, the commissioner would simply find someone else. Rather than leaving another to bear the stain, he might as well take it on himself. In any case, from the very day he had joined the organization, he had already prepared himself for this.
He looked up and said, "Commissioner, I have a few questions."
Commissioner Qu said, "Speak."
Team Leader Lu said, "If we proceed according to your plan and provoke a clash between the two delegations, Section Chief Chen is undeniably the strongest within the Great Shun Delegation.
"While his presence can certainly draw the vast majority of Vea State's attention, his strength and prestige could also quickly quell and resolve any conflict. Even though he isn't here at the moment, he could still manage it as soon as he returns."
Commissioner Qu replied, "What you say makes some sense. I received word earlier that he may already be on his way back, but fortunately, the Federation's regulations hold him back. He will have to spend at least two to three days in transit.
"And what we must exploit is precisely this window of opportunity. Do you remember Advisor Gui in the Great Shun Delegation? Lodewijk was slain by him, and the Tawatinian diaspora harbors immense hostility toward him right now.
"What's more, after that incident, quite a few Tawatinian rioters were wiped out. Hatred is buried deep in their hearts. A single stray spark could ignite the fury in every one of them. And once that fire starts burning, it won't be so easily put out."
Team Leader Lu couldn't help but nod. If that was the case, there indeed was an opening.
He pondered for a moment and added, "However, if the Tawatinian delegation intends to square off against the Great Shun Delegation, they will certainly have a martial artist traveling with them..."
Commissioner Qu said, "You don't need to worry about that. High command has made arrangements. As I told you, this is part of the grand plan, and every side will coordinate. You only need to see to your assigned duty. As for the rest, I will coordinate and handle it."
Team Leader Lu said, "Understood, Commissioner. In that case, I have no further questions."
Commissioner Qu looked at him for a moment and said, "Give it your all. I will take my leave now." He raised a hand in a downward pressing gesture. "No need to see me out. Go attend to your duties."
Team Leader Lu acknowledged. After the man left, he sat down and turned the matter over carefully in his mind. When the two men outside walked in, he asked, "Is he gone?"
The two nodded.
Team Leader Lu stood up and said in a grave voice, "I will now assign your tasks. Record them and relay the orders on my behalf."
The two immediately tapped the implants beside their ears.
Half an hour later, the two departed. Two hours after that, thirty-two elite operatives slipped out of Center City in batches, arriving at the designated location that very afternoon.
According to the estimated itinerary, the delegation should have arrived by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Unexpectedly, they waited two full days without catching even a glimpse of their targets.
This Tawatinian delegation had been thrown together at the last minute. Their immigrant enclave had suffered losses in the previous clash, and they believed the Eastern Continental enclave had only prevailed because they were backed by the Great Shun Delegation. Pinning everything on that simplistic rationale, they had scrambled to form a delegation of their own in imitation.
As for what specific terms to negotiate once they reached Vea State, what demands to present, or how to fight for their interests, they had not given it a moment's thought prior to departure. They had merely cobbled together a few excuses along the way, acting with utter casualness.
Then, upon crossing into Federation territory, hearing about a song-and-dance gala nearby prompted them to divert from their scheduled route, delaying them by an entire day.
Yet changing their route required new clearances and arrangements, forcing them to remain where they were. Out of boredom, they went off to watch a ball game. When the newly set departure time rolled around, half the group failed to return on time, causing yet another significant delay.
To make matters worse, the local resistance cell reported this news a full day late, leaving both Commissioner Qu and Team Leader Lu utterly speechless.
In truth, every extra day they spent waiting increased their risk of exposure. Fortunately, the location they occupied was of no great importance, and the Federation paid little heed to this delegation to begin with, so their presence remained undetected.
Despite these unforeseen hiccups, not a single member of the strike team complained.
Those chosen for this team were all people of staunch conviction and unwavering resolve. When duty demanded, they would not hesitate to sacrifice their own lives; petty frustrations like these could hardly shake them.
By the afternoon of the third day, they finally spotted two airships drifting in from the distance.
The team's spirits lifted. Someone asked, "Captain, is that the delegation?"
"Yes. Look at the one behind—that's an armed airship reserved for martial artists. Only a martial artist is permitted to ride in it."
The operatives cast only a fleeting, guarded glance before promptly averting their eyes.
They were seasoned veterans who knew full well how sharp a martial artist's senses were. A single slip could give them away, so none stared directly, watching only from the corners of their eyes at most.
Seeing the two airships slowly pull up to the mooring tower, the team captain said, "Get ready. Move the moment the signal drops."
The others nodded their understanding.
A short while later, people began disembarking from the airships, chatting and laughing. One man even went over to hit on a female mooring tower attendant—judging by his bearing, he was actually their head of security.
One operative couldn't help muttering, "Their guard seems incredibly lax?"
These resistance members operated year-round right under the noses of active and inactive conscious entities, clashing with combat dolls and outmaneuvering modified organisms. Nearly every one of them was an elite warrior and fighter.
In their eyes, this delegation was an undisciplined mess without even basic security awareness, looking more like tourists on vacation. It almost made them wonder if this was an elaborate trap.
Someone whispered back, "That's just how they are." Then added, "We're in the Federation's heartland. It's only normal for them to be this relaxed."
The others nodded. That worked out even better for their operation.
A chime sounded through the captain's implant communicator. Without hesitation, he commanded, "It's time. Position One, fire."
A split second later, with a shrill whistle, a modified rocket shot out from the woods, streaking straight toward the airships.
Yet midway through its trajectory, a glowing figure materialized and snatched the projectile right out of the air. Pinpointing the firing position in an instant, the figure blurred and charged straight for it.
Just as that person crossed halfway, another glowing silhouette intercepted them from the flank. The air erupted with explosive impacts and sonic shocks. Those nearby felt the ground shudder beneath their feet, as if naval guns were firing point-blank right in front of them.
At that exact moment inside the mooring tower, a resonator disguised as a facility worker unleashed a field signal, jamming the implants of the delegation members.
These people had been leisurely sipping tea or admiring the scenery and were caught completely off guard. Many of their implants scrambled their biological signals, sending them into violent convulsions on the spot.
The captain immediately barked, "Go!"
More than thirty operatives surged forward. The delegation's security detail mounted only token resistance before breaking into a chaotic rout.
The strike team had anticipated poor combat capability from the delegation, but not this abysmal. Their mission was an ambush, not total annihilation; with the enemy scattering in all directions, were they supposed to pursue them or not?
Fortunately, there was no need to ponder it further. The resonator on the other side relayed urgent news: a distant observation post had sent out an alert, and Federation gunships were already airborne, set to arrive on the scene within fifteen minutes. They were instructed to pull out immediately.
The team members withdrew in an orderly fashion. To ensure the delegation could still reach Center City in time, they deliberately left the airships intact as they pulled out.
Half an hour later, the Federation airships arrived late on the scene. Wary of the presence of martial artists, the gunships maintained a cautious distance rather than rushing in.
Ten minutes before their arrival, the martial artist dispatched by the resistance had already disengaged and departed. While the delegation's martial artist was by no means weak, having lost the initiative from the opening exchange kept him at a disadvantage throughout the clash, leaving him nursing substantial injuries.
Only after Federation security personnel secured the area did it take more than two hours for the scattered delegation members to trickle back in.
A subsequent headcount revealed five security personnel dead and more than twenty wounded. When Federation authorities asked if they had any clue as to the culprits' identities, the entire delegation pointed the finger in unison at the Eastern Continent.
Chapter 1136