The Camp

Inside the conference hall of the Combine delegation in Bainiao District, the delegation's principal members sat around a conference table before a field light screen as the operations director explained the current situation. "We have received confirmed intelligence that Investigation Supervisor Chen Chuan of the Disposal Bureau has most likely led a detachment into the Confluence. He is presumably acting on orders from higher-ups to reinforce Xu Chan's team." One delegate raised a question: "I recall it was said earlier that he wasn't a frontline combatant, so he almost certainly wouldn't enter the Confluence?" The operations director replied, "Circumstances have changed. Of the Disposal Bureau's three operational Investigation Supervisors, one is dead, and one is... currently confirmed captured. They also lost a large number of their elite personnel and subordinates. At present, the only supervisor who can be mobilized for reinforcement is Supervisor Chen. "Moreover, his combat capabilities happen to be the strongest among the three supervisors. Since his promotion was earned through meritorious service without extensive connections in the upper echelons, it is understandable that the Defense Department dispatched him for support." Another delegate asked gravely, "Will this have any impact on our operation?" "According to our estimates, the most he can do right now is move to relieve the forward outpost established there by the Defense Department..." As he spoke, a map of the uncharted sector appeared on the screen, marking the location of the Defense Department's camp. In another corner, their own camp was displayed as well, distinguished by different colors and markers in a clean, intuitive layout. "As long as the Jibei Dao Defense Department maintains a firm hold on its outpost in the uncharted sector, ensuring a continuous forward pivot, they can support and receive Xu Chan's team. Once Xu Chan and his people secure the relic and fall back to the camp, they can board an airship and swiftly return with it to the safety of the garrison's protective perimeter. "This site is therefore of paramount importance to them. Currently, this sector is under attack by elite troops of the former imperial house, so Supervisor Chen's first stop will inevitably be there to secure the position." Several delegates seated at the table nodded in agreement. The deduction was sound, and it was the only viable way for the Jibei Dao government to turn the tide. "Is that camp still holding out? Wasn't it breached once before?" The operations director replied, "The former imperial house's elite forces haven't committed to a full-scale assault. They are merely maintaining a certain amount of pressure on the camp. They likely want to modulate and direct the broader situation based on where the relic ends up." The delegates were intimately familiar with such maneuvers. Wherever their backing corporations had poured in sufficient resources and force, they could sway local affairs at will. And the Confluence was distinctly the home turf of these former dynasties and imperial houses, so it was hardly surprising that they pulled such strings. In the end, their objective was nothing other than the relic; both sides were merely using each other. "Does the strike team have a plan?" The operations director answered respectfully, "We have contingency plans for every scenario. Preparations and adjustments are currently underway, and everything should be in place before long." One delegate inquired, "I heard our operatives on the ground have already clashed with Xu Chan once?" "That is correct..." The operations director glanced toward Representative Maurujan, who was seated to the side. "Mr. Blood Diamond of Spire Biotech fought Xu Chan once before. Mr. Blood Diamond is a rigorous man. In his appraisal, Xu Chan's strength was unexpectedly formidable. He believes our prior assessment of the man was inaccurate and must be revised upward. "Although neither side went all out in that encounter, Mr. Blood Diamond judged that he could not take Xu Chan down alone. Furthermore, Xu Chan is flanked by several capable helpers. It would take a force several times larger than that team to drive them off or severely wound them. "While we possess that kind of strength, considering that the relic's whereabouts remained unknown and forward preparations were incomplete, the operational team unanimously decided to bide their time. "However, a fighter of considerable standing arrived there a day ago. He has already entered the uncharted sector to join the search for Xu Chan's team, and we believe he will bring us good news this time." A delegate asked, "Considerable standing? Who?" The operations director smiled. "Mr. Euxios Heros. He should have arrived on site by now." Several delegates in attendance showed surprise. "Heros? His application was approved?" This was an individual capable of ranking within the top thirty fighters worldwide at the third limit. Naturally, the Great Shun government remained extremely wary of such figures, subjecting him to strict entry scrutiny and repeatedly rejecting his applications to enter the Confluence, holding him up at every turn. The Combine delegation had previously given up hope on having him join this operation, yet an unexpected turn had materialized. The operations director responded, "The vetting department suddenly loosened its grip. That was likely due to cooperation from the Jibei Dao Municipal Council—they are even more invested in this matter than we are." "That is good news," Mr. Chi, who was attending the meeting, said with great certainty. "With him present, dealing with Xu Chan will be well within hand." World rankings were not strictly ordinal; for the most part, fighters were grouped into tiers of several dozen. Taking the top thirty as an example, all thirty were first-tier powerhouses, and it was hard to claim one was definitively stronger than another. After all, fighters at this limit were relatively close in prowess. When they clashed, victory often hinged on a stroke of luck or simply their state of form on that particular day. Even if one beat an opponent this time, there was no guarantee they would win the next. Nevertheless, ranking tiers served to demarcate tiers of capability. Those near the top—such as the top thirty—were far beyond what fighters below could compare to. Osbert, the delegation's presiding officer, spoke up at this point: "Not just Heros. Wilhelm, 'Blue Blood' of the Linax Federation, is currently traveling there aboard our airship. He should be arriving shortly as well." The delegates were quite surprised. Another fighter ranked in the world's top thirty! They exchanged glances; the Linax Federation was clearly keen on maintaining parity with them. Still, they had already reached an adequate agreement prior to the operation. Moreover, given the Linax Federation's chronically poor relations with the Great Shun government, its personnel support fell short of the Combine's, and the relocation of the relic had to rely on the Combine. Consequently, they felt no real concern over this. The operations director looked toward the screen and smiled. "Gentlemen, for the time being, let us await the reports from the front." *** Confluence, Uncharted Sector. Having packed his gear, Chen Chuan followed Yang Yuncheng out of the camp, making their way along a narrow trail sheltered beneath dense forest canopy. On his way here, Chen Chuan had deliberately avoided traveling through the forest. There were far too many active plants, which were exceptionally troublesome to deal with. Once deep within, such vegetation seemed endless, and worse still, one could lose all sense of direction. Once stamina ran dry, a traveler could easily be trapped and perish inside. This time, however, he noticed that under Yang Yuncheng's lead, the active plants showed no reaction whatsoever. Upon the elder's explanation, Chen Chuan learned that the local indigenous tribes had lived here for generations and had established a certain tacit understanding with the plants. Whenever they caught game, they occasionally fed portions to them. Yang Yuncheng had adhered to this tradition over the past twenty-five years as well. Thus, as long as he guided the way and trips were not overly frequent, the flora would not take the initiative to attack. Furthermore, aggressive creatures were generally rare in areas inhabited by active plants. As a result, they encountered virtually no hindrances along the way, arriving in the vicinity of the Combine's camp in under half a morning. Yang Yuncheng knew the surrounding terrain intimately, leading him up a high slope ideal for observation, from which they looked out into the distance. With their vision, despite being at least seven or eight kilometers away, they could still clearly discern what was happening inside the camp. The entire camp was shaped like a dumbbell, its north and south ends facing the thoroughfares fortified the most heavily. Around the perimeter, one could see sentry posts, barbed wire, trenches, and elevating barricades. Numerous machine-gun emplacements were set up toward the rear, and deeper inside lay structures resembling bunkers. Heavily armed security soldiers could be seen carrying large tanks on their backs, spraying various chemical agents all around with spray nozzles. A carpet of dissolved insect carcasses coated the ground. Just then, several front loaders rolled out, scooping and pushing the insect remains into pre-dug pits before dousing them in algae oil and setting them ablaze, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing upward. Taking it in, Chen Chuan noted that the Combine had converted this place into a full rear staging base. To erect such an elaborate setup in so short a time proved they were utterly determined to win this prize. At that moment, Chaoming suddenly spread its wings, its feathers bristling as if deeply unsettled. Chen Chuan felt a faint anomaly as well, noticing a slight blurriness manifesting on his second self. He gave it some thought. Based on the intelligence he had gathered, this was likely an intense field signal emitted via a field organism, effective at targeting and repelling creatures with mutated tissue. And such technologies happened to be the forte of certain Combine corporations. Reaching out, he comforted Chaoming with his own spirit, and the bird soon calmed down. Yang Yuncheng gestured in one direction, pointing toward a mooring mast. "Over there is the airship berth. Most of the supplies in the camp were brought in by airships. Look, another one is coming." Chen Chuan looked over and saw a blue airship cruising toward the base. A large flock of birds circled around it, appearing eager to attack yet seemingly held back by dread. As the airship crossed a certain threshold, the intense field appeared to take effect; some birds wheeled around and fled, though a few continued trailing it. Just then, several gunshots rang out from the camp, instantly blowing those remaining birds apart in midair. Hearing the shots, Yang Yuncheng blurted out, "The Spear of Skadi!" He paused before explaining, "That's a famous long-range firearm from Norland, with numerous records worldwide of sniping fighters. I don't know what generation they're on now, but the ones fired just now are probably second-generation models." Chen Chuan nodded slightly. "Mr. Yang, I need to get closer to observe. Are there any other vantage points nearby?" Yang Yuncheng thought for a moment. "Follow me." As the two of them moved closer toward the camp once again, the blue airship had already entered the perimeter, coming to a halt at the berth and slowly descending. Most of the personnel belonging to the Linax Federation within the camp walked outside. They watched the hatchway, seemingly awaiting someone's appearance. Before long, a figure emerged there. ... ...