NOVPUBNot all the mercenaries were howling and rushing towards Sun Domain City, eager for battle.
Many were still staying in or near the Transport Airship, observing and waiting.
The hovering patrol drones not only focused their cameras on the distant battlefield but also kept some of their lenses on the three airships that had landed.
A group of mercenaries stirred again and naturally came under Chen Fei's observation as they aggressively surrounded two of the Transport Airships. Their intentions were as clear as day.
Chen Fei couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
If they won't give, then steal? What's the point of preaching about morality and ethics then?
Of course, he wasn't going to give these mercenaries a chance.
"What exactly is going on? Why drive everyone down?"
Fresh from her duties as a temporary commander, the Female Mercenary Leader Barina sent a communication request, and Chen Fei gave her due respect.
From the beginning, her "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps had not been involved in those messy affairs.
"Commander Barina, some people want to steal the airships. To prevent inside-out collaboration, I'm sorry," Chen explained.
Even if an internal and external collusion were to happen, Chen Fei wasn't too concerned. Evicting them beforehand was simply to avoid unnecessary killings.
"So that's it, rest assured, I, Barina, am not that kind of person!"
The commander of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps immediately understood the situation. She tolerated no injustice, and her temper could flare up to the extent that most men would wisely steer clear.
No sooner had she finished speaking with Chen Fei than other mercenary leaders started calling.
Their conversation was brief before Barina scolded them harshly and immediately ordered the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps, in cooperation with the Combat Mechs inside the Transport Airship, to drive all their fellow mercenaries out of the airship.
The Transport Airship occupied by the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps was quickly cleared, and its doors were completely locked.
The expelled mercenaries clashed violently with the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps. Those who had left the Transport Airship earlier then turned back, aiming to take control of the airship, and both sides fiercely clashed.
Without the help of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps on another Transport Airship, although the order to leave was given, the mercenaries inside were reluctant and cursing loudly.
Some even attacked the Combat Mechs executing the orders, causing a chaotic uproar both inside and outside the airship.
Chen Fei left the bridge, as those shortsighted mercenaries hadn't yet dared to target this flagship.
The Single Soldier Tactical Armor, "Dragon King" Assault Heavy Armor, the giant version, carried him towards the landing sites of those two Transport Airships, hand outstretched.
Whoosh!~
In the roaring wind, one Transport Airship disappeared without a trace, taken into the "Spatial Branding."
Inside another Transport Airship, compartment decks stood up one after another, turning into walls that unquestionably pushed forward layer by layer, forcing all unwilling mercenaries out of the vessel.
Then another gust of wind surged, filling the vacuum left by the vanishing colossal ship.
Even though the mercenaries continued to curse and yell, Chen Fei ignored them. The "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor returned to the flagship. Just as it landed on the top of the vessel, preparing to descend into it, the Giant Mobile Armor paused.
Ten or more people were standing in the front, each holding various weapons.
"What is this about?"
Inside the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor, Chen Fei's tone was devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
These were the leaders of the mercenary corps recruited this time. Though not all were present, they were enough to represent the will of most mercenaries.
"Please do us a favor, boss."
One of the Mercenary Corps Commanders smiled broadly and saluted the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor.
"What are you trying to do?"
The Female Commander of the "Furious Witch" Mercenary Corps also noticed the movements of other mercenary leaders and followed by jumping onto the top of the flagship, standing beside the "Dragon King" Assault Mobile Armor, making her stance clear.
Few more steps were heard, still standing behind Barina.
A hero always has allies; the "Soul Eating Flower" was not without friends.
"Barina, as a member of Sun Domain City, why aren't you coming over!"
Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps frowned slightly across from her. He hadn't anticipated that this female commander and several others would stand opposed.
"Ha! It seems like the reputation of Sun Domain City's mercenaries is almost ruined by you guys. Am I..."
Barina looked back at other mercenary leaders, nodded to them, and then, standing her ground, she said, "Am I not supposed to do something about it?"
It's one thing to see injustice, but is another to act; the reputation of Sun Domain City's mercenaries affects many people's livelihoods.
One minute they take the employer's Star Yuan, the next they're stealing from him. Regardless of how noble the reasons, it's not something a righteous mercenary should do.
If possible, Barina even wanted to spit in the faces of these scoundrels.
The opposing mercenary leaders looked somewhat sheepish. Honestly, what they were doing was indeed a bit shady.
"Barina, it's not for ourselves. It's to avenge our fallen brothers, for the elders and folks of Sun Domain City, and besides, it's just a matter of sacrificing an unimportant outsider. If you join us, we can still be good friends. In the future, whatever happens, 'Nine-eyed Beast' will definitely lend powerful support."
Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps was dead set on getting the airships and starting a war with the enemies who bombed his brothers.
Without the two Transport Airships, these mercenaries had no choice but to target Chen Fei's flagship.
As the core of the Airship Battle Group, this flagship's combat capability would certainly meet the mercenaries' needs.
"Pfft, why don't you sacrifice yourselves? Do you owe them something?"
Barina spat disdainfully on the ground, landing it on Chen Fei's airship...
However, her words also voiced what Chen Fei was thinking.
"I'm giving you 10 seconds to leave, otherwise, don't blame me for not being polite."
Chen Fei had no intention of continuing to watch both sides waste breath and issued a final warning.
If these disobedient mercenaries wanted to seek death, he didn't mind helping them along.
"You want to start a war?"
The group of mercenary leaders puffed up like roosters ready for a fight.
"Stop, ah!!!!"
Barina had just started to shout to stop them, but her voice broke mid-sentence, completely going off-key.
She and the mercenary leaders behind her suddenly turned pale, their eyes widening as they looked toward the opposing mercenary leaders as if they were facing a major threat... Behind them?
"What?"
Realizing the odd expressions on Barina and others, particularly as their gaze began to rise, Commander Knob of the "Nine-eyed Beast" Mercenary Corps and his men turned around in confusion.
Hiss...
They all inhaled sharply, almost unable to believe their eyes.
A ferocious "Giant Dragon" emerged from inside the hull, passing directly through the metal exterior without any hatch opening.
This was clearly, clearly the innate ability of the Metallic Dragons!
Clang, clang, clang, clang...
No dragon of the metallic element was here; the reality was the X-D-005 Giant Dragon-type Combat Mobility Armor making a dazzling entrance. Its appearance was not due to the innate ability of a Metallic Dragon but was aided by Chen Fei's B-grade metal elemental psychic power.
Although unmanned, it did not hinder the artificial intelligence AI "Adam" from controlling its movements. Naturally, its combat effectiveness couldn't match Chen Fei personally piloting it, but its ability to intimidate was undiminished. Positioned behind those mercenary leaders, an oppressive force seemed to surge towards them.
"Giant, giant, giant, giant dragon!!!!"
A mercenary leader next to Commander Knob's voice cracked completely out of tune.
No one had told them that their employer from Blue Star had a Metallic Dragon, and it had been kept so well hidden that it only now revealed its true form. Until this moment, everyone had been in the dark, knowing nothing.
If there was a Metallic Dragon, then what was the job of these mercenaries? Wasn't this just burning money?
"7!"
Chen Fei continued counting on his own.
Don't say you weren't warned!
A fine tradition of The First Sovereign, which Chen Xiao'er had inherited, although sometimes, he acted first without saying anything as a courtesy.
"6!"
The countdown reached the ears of all mercenary leaders.
Commander Knob and his men looked at each other and without hesitation, they leaped down from the top of the flagship. Even Barina and her companions did not hesitate and followed, retreating together.
If even a Metallic Dragon had appeared, were they still planning to reason with it?
"'Adam', how does a dog bark?"
Chen Fei disembarked from the "Dragon King" assault-type mobile armor, looking toward the mechanical dragon controlled by the artificial intelligence AI "Adam."
The mechanical dragon's head tilted.
"Woof?"
"Good boy!"
The Human Race's perverse sense of humor—how could an artificial intelligence possibly understand?
The full 80 meters of the flagship slowly left the ground and continued to ascend; those mercenaries wanting to board again had no opportunity to do so.
Even if there was a chance, they would not dare provoke the "Dragon" on the ship.
Whether it was a true Giant Dragon or not, it had the capability to wipe out these mercenaries entirely.
"Pfft!~ These Blue Star people are no good!"
The frustrated leader of the "Malicious Code" Mercenary Corps watched the airship ascend into the sky and spit a mouthful of bloody spit onto the ground.
Thinking of his comrades separated by life and death, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sadness and began to howl loudly.
"My brothers!!!!"
The scene was steeped in gloom.
But the "Furious Witch," leader Barina, took her people and moved away, knowing Sun Domain City was no longer an option; they needed to find a place to settle first.
Impulsiveness is the devil; had those mercenaries not rashly charged toward Sun Domain City, they would not have suffered unwarranted casualties and losses.
