A dozen or so kilometers southeast of the Consortium's encampment lay the base of the Linakes Federation expedition.
Around the perimeter stood Gigaguards clad in heavy biological armor, maintaining a strict watch behind an array of barricades and concertina wire.
Inside the camp, however, the atmosphere was entirely different. Many of the personnel seemed undisciplined and idle. Some lounged about chatting and laughing, others kept to themselves in remote corners, and a good number simply slept inside their canvas barracks.
This was because a considerable portion of the expedition's fighters were hired guns. Many did not see eye to eye, and crowding them together only invited trouble, so the commander permitted them to do as they pleased when not engaged in combat.
Apart from these men, several dozen burly laborers were hard at work, driving heavy wooden stakes into the ground at pre-marked positions.
Others continuously hauled in timber felled and dressed on the spot, seemingly engaged in erecting some sort of structure.
As the ancient trees slowly toppled, shrill, wretched shrieks issued from their wood. Thick, blood-like fluid spurted from the cuts, bark peeled away in living ribbons that leaped to the ground, and severed leaves scurried across the dirt like swarms of insects.
It was a spine-chilling sight, yet the workers remained completely unfazed. Over the past few days, they had grown thoroughly accustomed to it. Workers in protective suits and respirators stepped forward at once, spraying chemical solvents to dissolve the squirming remnants into sludge.
Major General Ingram Therbil, the chief commander of this expedition, stood off to the side, gazing coldly at the busy scene. A diminutive man wearing round-lensed spectacles approached, carrying a roll of blueprints under his arm.
The man mopped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, then said respectfully, "General, progress is going smoothly. We can begin inscribing the ritual patterns today."
Major General Therbil asked, "How long will it take?"
"Three days," the short man replied.
"Two days," Therbil countered. "I will give you only two days. This priming apparatus must be completed within two days."
The man stammered, "B-but our carried materials are running low. We have to harvest what we need on-site. That could easily cause delays..."
Therbil lowered his gaze, his gray eyes utterly devoid of emotion. "Whatever you need, I will ensure you receive it. You need only see to your own responsibilities."
The short man shivered involuntarily. Bowing, he clutched his blueprints to his chest and scurried away with his head lowered.
Therbil watched the rising framework of the apparatus, his gray pupils reflecting the wilderness beyond.
While the Linakes Federation expedition possessed respectable strength, they could not truly compete with the Consortium. Their greatest disadvantage was the lack of logistical support; they could not muster sufficient reinforcements, and they even had to rely on the Consortium's transport network to return home.
This structural dependency inevitably put them at a severe disadvantage in the struggle for the relic. Even though higher authorities had already negotiated their share of the spoils, Linakes had never liked having others call the shots. Naturally, they had devised their own contingency.
If the conventional path was closed, they would have to resort to an unconventional gamble—a tactic they were well accustomed to taking.
Back during a past conflict with their southern neighbor, Tequel, the Linakes Federation had been unable to deploy adequate forces through normal channels. They had blazed an alternate path instead, dispatching armed personnel into the Confluence adjoining an adjacent Center City and marching through that treacherous expanse to reinforce the disputed Nano Center City.
It had been a nearly mad undertaking. Although Confluences were theoretically interconnected, the physical distances between them were staggering, and each Center City Confluence only effectively controlled the territory immediately surrounding it. Attempting to traverse uncharted zones within was fraught with unimaginable peril.
In the end, that attempt had failed. Over ninety percent of the men perished on the march, yet two managed to reach their destination.
Those two had exerted enough influence on the ground to prevent their proxies in Nano Center City from collapsing entirely.
That operation had provided valuable precedent. An unorthodox move might carry terrible risks, but it did not mean there would be no harvest; only by doing nothing would one truly walk away empty-handed. This time, they were preparing to execute an even bolder scheme.
At that moment, a radio operator removed his headset, quickly transcribed the decoded cable, and hurried over to Major General Therbil. He saluted and handed the message forward.
"Report! Word has arrived from the Consortium's camp. They clashed with Xu Chan once again. Due to outside interference, they failed to pin him down. They are currently organizing a third pursuit and have warned us that an unknown faction may be involved in this operation."
Therbil's cold gray eyes shifted slightly. "Reply to them: if they require our support, we will rendezvous with them immediately and take part in the encirclement."
***
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of an uncharted settlement, Xu Chan had gathered his three enforcement captains.
"Now that you've interacted with the people of this camp, what's your read on them?"
The squad had already conducted a trial trade with the settlement. Because it was their first contact, both sides had been cautious. Xu Chan had deliberately stayed out of sight to avoid provoking excessive wariness, which might have derailed the transaction before it began.
Captain Hai, despite his hulking, burly frame, was an observant and meticulous man. He said, "Hard to say. When I mentioned we were looking for something and asked if they could guide us, not only did they agree without hesitation, but they were remarkably eager. My gut tells me they're helping us for reasons beyond simple trade."
Xu Chan's longtime subordinate, Captain Lü, chimed in, "Captain Hai, are you saying they're after the relic too?"
Hai was reluctant to jump to conclusions and shook his head. "Hard to say."
Captain Hu mused, "These people live right here. If a relic surfaced, shouldn't they have found it first? Why wait for us to come claim it?"
"That's not necessarily true," Lü replied. "The moment a relic appears, it draws in all sorts of Confluence organisms to fight over it, including plenty of formidable creatures. Whether these people have the muscle to seize it is another matter entirely."
Xu Chan nodded, then asked, "How strong are the people in this camp?"
Lü answered, "They're certainly not simple. The claim that a faction among them fled from the former imperial house checks out."
Having dealt extensively with imperial fugitives in the past, Lü was familiar with their background.
"The entire settlement only holds thirty to fifty people, so I suspect this place is just a covert trading post. It might even have ties to the rebels fighting the old dynasty, which would explain why they're hiding out here."
Just as resistance organizations operated throughout Great Shun, similar resistance forces existed against the former dynasty. Most were natives of the region who had taken up arms after suffering relentless exploitation and enslavement by the dynasty following its retreat into the Confluence, causing rebel groups to spring up one after another.
"That said, the strongest person in the camp is at most on par with me. They can't threaten us."
Xu Chan looked toward Captain Hai, seeking his opinion. The latter replied, "Assuming they don't have outside help, yes."
Xu Chan said, "We still need to maintain our guard. You are all experienced enforcement captains, so I won't belabor the point."
He looked across at the three men, his expression hardening. "Yesterday was a close call. The enemy's forces are formidable, and I suspect they already have enough manpower to mount a full encirclement. But that doesn't mean we're out of options.
"Starting now, we split into two groups.
"The three of you will lead the main team and continue searching for the relic. Remember: protect yourselves above all. The moment you find it, withdraw immediately toward our rear camp. Bring it back at all costs, no matter the losses."
The three captains snapped to attention, their faces solemn. "Understood!"
Xu Chan continued, "I will stay behind to draw their attention and buy you time."
Lü grew anxious. "Old Xu..."
Xu Chan raised a hand to silence him. "I know it's dangerous. But the people I encountered yesterday were exceptional—every single one of them had mastered the power of spiritual perception. You wouldn't be able to help me much. In truth, without you around, I can fight more freely and hide far more easily."
A wave of helplessness washed over the three captains. Though each had mastered Mind Jin and considered himself a top-tier fighter within that realm, standing against the power of spiritual perception was an uphill battle. Those who had achieved spiritual perception had already stepped onto the highest threshold of this tier.
Xu Chan added, "This Confluence is vast. As long as you leave no tracks, finding you won't be easy. I will harass and delay them rather than meet them head-on. The longer I tie them down, the safer you will be."
Captain Hai said calmly, "Captain Xu, we'll follow your lead. That truly is our best option right now."
Xu Chan pulled a pendant-like object from his pocket and tossed it to Captain Hai. "Captain Hai, you hold on to this."
Hai caught it with a swift motion and solemnly tucked it into an inner pocket of his protective gear. This item was also a relic; whenever another relic was nearby or fresh traces had been left, it resonated faintly.
It was thanks to this very object that they could be confident of locating their quarry.
Yet such a capability was hardly unique; organizations like the Consortium and the Linakes Federation likely carried similar tools.
Their only advantage had been a head start. Now that the enemy had caught up, speed was essential.
Xu Chan stood up. "Then let us begin. Everyone, I'm counting on you." He snapped a crisp salute.
The three captains rose to their feet and solemnly returned the gesture.
With orders finalized, the men split up and went straight to work. Within barely ten minutes, all preparations were complete, and the main party set out alongside the native guide assigned by the settlement.
Once everyone had departed, Xu Chan took out a pelt from an unknown beast that he had obtained through trade. Geometric patches of color were inked across its surface, along with vivid lines marking safe routes and prime hiding locations.
It was a map of the surrounding paths, detailing the various snares and traps laid by the settlement's inhabitants.
Even while providing cover, he had no intention of throwing himself into a frontal clash. He would rely on his extensive combat experience to delay and harass the pursuers. With this map, the high explosives left behind by the team, and several specialized items brought along for the mission, he would be able to tie them down for quite some time.
Chapter 734