NOVPUBThe imaginative and associative capabilities that intelligent species possess are absent in artificial intelligence AI, which can't even mimic these through computational models.
Had it not been for Chen Fei's re-examined scouting information, they might have completely missed it.
All the computations and searches failed to anticipate that the elusive parasitic species would end up being eaten by the mutants.
No one had imagined that the mutants wreaking havoc on Blue Star wouldn't cower before the extraterrestrial "Sagali", choosing instead to defiantly engage in a brute force confrontation, with the result being the parasitic species getting forcefully expelled.
It was truly freaking bizarre, was this what they call fighting poison with poison?
By the time Chen Fei had eradicated the group of XR-0079 "Headhunter Excavator Shells", the parasitic species hidden there had long since turned into stinking excrement, truly defying any sense of reason.
Chen Fei simply tested all the mutant feces at the scene, going through at least a hundred thousand samples throughout the night.
The detection equipment that "ate" fresh or dry feces all night long was cursing silently the entire time but still obediently generated the test reports.
The identified parasitic species genetic fragments weren't only from a single individual but from over ten, with the remainder being genetic fragments of various animals and plants, including magical beasts. The mutants were never picky eaters, consuming anything that could supplement their nutrition.
Compared to the parasitic species that hid inside "Sea Wolf Sharks" near the fishing village harbor, those hiding in this mountainous region were led by a Royal Breed, with two General Breed and fifteen Troop Breed under its command, forming a small-scale parasitic species group. However, the dryness of the feces containing these parasitic remains varied, meaning that the excretions weren't from a single day but occurred over a period of time.
This signified that the parasitic species group was hunted down one by one, which was very characteristic of the tendencies of Hive Type mutants.
The Hive Type mutants were never short of patience. With enough food and time, they could constantly expand their community, excelling at a war of attrition – for each that died, two emerged; for each pair lost, four more originated, continuously, never ceasing.
Of course, the combat mechs and Mechanical Scorpions controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" were emotionless industrial products, even less concerned about attrition warfare.
Taking over from the parasitic species group, the mutants that occupied the nest were gradually worn down, after all, the rate of reproduction and growth of the young could not compete with the crazed production of explosive soldiers by modern industrial assembly lines, even in cost-efficiency.
The first rays of dawn crossed the mountain ranges and shone upon the airships that had landed on various mountaintops.
The "Energy Gathering Shell" surface, which constantly drew elemental energy from the atmosphere regardless of day or night, became more conspicuous as it dispersed shimmering energy in a kaleidoscope of colors.
"Did you find any parasitic species?"
Mercenary temporary commander Ballerina, known by the nickname "Soul Eating Flower", sent her morning query to Chen Fei.
"No! The mission is over, everyone prepare to return."
Chen Fei was no honest kid, not revealing even the slightest hint.
He understood all too well that the mercenaries actually cared a great deal about any information on the parasitic species, and among these more than a thousand mercenaries and several hundred logistics personnel, there were many spies from the guilds, not just one.
Almost every mercenary guild around Sun Domain City had become involved, including the "Holy Blood Guild", with which Chen Fei had openly broken ties.
Any scrap of information about the parasitic species was now considered valuable intelligence that could be equated with money, why would Chen Fei just give away such information so carelessly? Since there was demand, why not sell it at a high price?
So when Ballerina inquired in the capacity of a mercenary, denial was inevitable.
If it were the Mercenary Guild wanting to negotiate, Chen Fei's attitude would change completely.
After breakfast time was over, two transport airships took to the sky with everyone on board, followed by the retraction of all cooperative and auxiliary ships, leaving only the flagship to begin the journey back.
Non-combat flight states would consume unnecessary crystal energy reserves, so Chen Fei stowed away the surplus airships into the "Spatial branding". The elemental energy absorbed over a day and night was converted to crystal energy, just barely ensuring a balanced budget.
The cleared battle zone would soon be reoccupied by the various creatures that were originally active in the mountainous forests.
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Adam: Warning! A battle is taking place in the airspace about 300 kilometers ahead!
Even though he was returning without any active mission, Chen Fei still dispatched advance scout drones to maintain security vigilance over the flight path.
Honestly, he was currently maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Southern War Zone Headquarters and that Royal Breed, but he had always remained cautious.
As the saying goes, those who are not of our kind have a different heart!
In this unfamiliar place, Chen Fei was the alien, and if he could harbor a different heart, so could others.
The moment the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" issued a warning, the forward scout drones transmitted back the captured footage.
Spells and beams from directed-energy weapons crisscrossed in the sky, with at least a hundred small Assembled Combat aircraft entangled in combat, all of them "Sky Falcons".
Over ten Light Wing Ships were engaging in bombardment, with projectiles tracing straight trajectories and missiles, leaving erratic curves of exhaust trails, the fierce energy jets slamming into defensive magic and force fields, exploding in blinding flashes and scattering light particles everywhere.
To differentiate friend from foe, they relied on not just IFF signals but also visible differences in painting.
The two armies were engaged in battle, covering both the skies and ground around Sun Domain City. The ground battles were fiercely intense, and the situation within the city seemed particularly dire.
The heavily damaged Light Wing Ships were slowly descending, wrapped in fire and smoke, while lifeboats scrambled to escape. Some that were unlucky, hit by stray shots, twisted and fell to the ground with the wreckage.
Individual combat prowess felt immensely trivial in this battlefield. It was dominated by various types of combative machines.
"Reduce speed and hover, help me get in touch with the 'Sunset Guild'."
Chen Fei had the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" dial the direct line communication number of the "Sunset Guild" in Sun Domain City.
This was a one-on-one VIP service for him, a major customer. As long as the contact personnel were still alive, there would be no such thing as a busy signal.
"Hello, this is the 'Sunset Guild', service attendant Emma at your service!"
"Hang up!"
No sooner had the call connected than a sweet voice came through, but Chen Fei unhesitatingly ended the call.
To hell with "Emma"!
He and the "Sunset Guild" had a special arrangement: every day the person answering the phone would use a different name. Yesterday was "Emma," and today should be "Shirley."
A voice could be simulated and disguised, but not everyone could guess this secret code.
Adam: Interference signal source detected, Sun Domain City's public communication service system has been overridden.
"Tactical interference and tactical deceit!"
Chen Fei immediately understood what was going on.
No wonder, before this, he and those mercenaries hadn't received the slightest bit of information, entirely unaware of anything.
It wasn't until they approached Sun Domain City that they noticed something was amiss.
In just one night and day, Sun Domain City along with the nearby rebel camp had been engulfed in flames.
If his guess was correct, the Rebel Army Southern War Zone Headquarters were engaged in battle with the Slan Dynasty's rebel-suppression army. With the latter's technological strength, they were fully capable of blocking a city's communications without revealing any flaws.
However, the rebel-suppression army's information warfare technicians could never have imagined that Chen Fei would so easily uncover their tactics with a stroke of luck.
(Communication fraud personnel: ???)
"Huh? Why is the airship descending? It seems we haven't arrived at Sun Domain City yet!"
The mercenaries hadn't disbanded yet, and Ballerina was still performing her duties as the commander. When she suddenly noticed that the airship had not only stopped moving forward but also was descending rapidly, she immediately sent an inquiry to Chen Fei.
"Sun Domain City has started a war, we can't get too close for now!"
This time, Chen Fei didn't keep her in the dark, opting instead to tell the truth.
The reconnaissance drones closest to the battlefield began to retreat. Fortunately, the warring sides were too busy to spare any effort to deal with this unmanned drone and the three airships that had approached the battlefield.
"Ah? A war? Who's fighting whom?"
Ballerina was initially bewildered, then quickly caught on and hurriedly asked, "Is it a battle between the Slan Dynasty's army and the Restoration Army?"
The indigenous people of Zhai Liuzhou from the Tessa Empire have once again raised the flag of rebellion to resist the ruling of the Slan Dynasty. The Tessa Empire Restoration Army had for a time gained the upper hand on the continent, but armies loyal to the Slan Royal Family kept arriving one after another. It was inevitable that the two sides would clash once more.
She just never imagined that the Slan Dynasty's army would arrive so quickly.
Meanwhile, one application request for communication links after another kept popping up.
Clearly, more people had noticed the anomalies with the airship formation and were sending inquiries to Ballerina, the temporary commander.
"That's correct, it is indeed the case!"
Although the flames of war had yet to reach them, Chen Fei hesitated whether to have the airship formation retreat a distance to avoid a joint attack from the warring parties, as such an unjust death would truly leave him with no place to reason.
"Why would a battle start? Why would a battle start? Why would..."
Ballerina fell into a murmuring repetition as if she were a broken record.
Even if a large-scale rebellion had suddenly erupted on the Zilu Continent, and even though the Restoration Army's Southern War Zone Headquarters was located just outside Sun Domain City, and there were also large forces stationed there, this largest city in the southern part of the continent had always been peaceful and stable. No one would have expected war to come so suddenly, catching them unprepared.
"'Adam,' inform everyone that war has broken out in Sun Domain City, and we need to rest nearby for a while."
Perceiving that Ballerina wouldn't be of much use for a moment, Chen Fei didn't hesitate to have the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" pass the message to everyone to avoid unnecessary confusion or trouble.
The next second, every cellphone in the three airships rang out, and text messages were received as well.
Instantly, the mercenaries inside the two transport airships were thrown into uproar.
Damn, just took a trip away from home and upon returning, our home is gone!
Once the fires of war were lit, none could escape unscathed.
"Let's rush towards Sun Domain City at once, we have to defend the city!"
Just then, someone shouted what sounded like a local mercenary's rallying cry.
This naive fool—if everyone goes off to defend Sun Domain City, who will protect ourselves? Please take a look at the mercenary contract; it's not over yet, Chen Fei complained in his mind.
