NOVPUBChen Fei's flagship had once again pulled at least 20 kilometers away from Sun Domain City, where battles blazed across the sky, giving both sides of the engagement a clear statement—neither involving himself nor allowing them to drag him into the waters.
At his side remained only the "Yellow Sparrow" squad, a team that had been employed for several days in a row. As for the other mercenaries, whether hostile or not, they had all been abandoned at the previous landing point, left either to die or to survive; there was simply no capacity to manage more than that.
The grim-faced Captain Baron of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad was thankful for his quick reaction and clear head, which saved him from being discarded. Finding a job as good as the current one would be almost impossible in the future.
Thus, for the entire mercenary squad, it became even more essential to tread carefully and stick to their role, ensuring the contract lasted as long as possible, for a heavier purse for everyone with each additional bounty. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Lulisa, a female team member who had been kicked out of the control bridge, though somewhat unwilling to accept it, understood that if she desired to continue in this line of work, she had no choice but to understand, whether she truly grasped the situation or not.
Like his employer, Captain Baron had also made a firm decision.
-
In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.
The images sent back by the reconnaissance drones flying high overhead showed that the battle which had persisted for at least a day and a night over Sun Domain City was nearing a resolution. The explosions on the ground had mostly subsided, the smoke and fires were much less, and the skies were no longer filled with Assembled Combat Aircraft engaging in battle.
It wasn't clear which side was victorious, but that didn't affect Chen Fei from retracting his 80-meter-long flagship, switching to a Mobile Base Vehicle, and advancing towards Sun Domain City once more with the "Yellow Sparrow" squad in tow.
Around thirty kilometers away from Sun Domain City, the influx of civilian traffic and pedestrians continued to stream along the highway away from the dire conflict, suggesting that the frightful war had scared quite a few people.
Conversely, the Mobile Base Vehicle heading in the opposite direction of the evacuating citizens encountered no obstacles.
When the ancient walls of Sun Domain City became visible in the distance, checkpoints appeared on the highway, but the flags flapping were those of the Silan Dynasty.
The Rebel Army had been defeated, surrendering the entire city.
It wasn't just the Mobile Base Vehicle that was held up at the checkpoint—many individuals dressed as mercenaries were also stopped; they wished to enter the city but were barred by the peacekeeping troops' checkpoints, with the city allowing exit but not entry.
Every now and then in the sky, pairs of "Sky Falcon" Combat Aircraft would swiftly sweep past, ready to ruthlessly strike anyone who dared to cross the buffer zone.
The area around the checkpoint was scorched black, with a heavy scent of blood in the air. Not far away, bodies piled up like mountains, their limbs dismembered and faces frozen in grimace.
Without a doubt, the dead were mostly those who recklessly attempted to pass the checkpoint. The soldiers crushing the rebellion had not the slightest intention of showing mercy at this crucial juncture.
Chen Fei's Mobile Base Vehicle, flying the flag of the First Sovereign of Blue Star, slowly approached the checkpoint and then stopped.
The flag of the First Sovereign could be used as an amulet outside its homeland and was particularly effective.
Those who refused to respect it would find that the First Sovereign of Blue Star would not respect them in turn—war machinery pressing onto the territory was enough to make anyone acquiesce.
A soldier from the checkpoint quickly jogged over and loudly asked, "Where to?"
"To the Restoration Army camp!"
Chen Fei had no intention of entering the city and planned to circumvent it.
Unfortunately, the ring road around the city lay just behind the checkpoint, and if he couldn't pass, he would have to take a significant detour.
"Go ahead!"
The soldier waved his hand, granting passage on the spot.
Huh?
Chen Fei had thought he would need to engage in some discussion and even reveal the relationships with the Princess and the Crown Prince, but none of that was necessary.
Members of the "Yellow Sparrow" squad watched this scene, exchanging looks of confusion. Whether it was the Restoration Army or the Dynasty Army, it seemed their employer had the clout to pass through any territory unimpeded.
The Mobile Base Vehicle started up again and passed through the checkpoint without hindrance, as the barriers were moved aside.
Those attempting to take advantage and pass the checkpoint were once again intercepted. Someone yelled at the Mobile Base Vehicle, "Hey, Mr. Chen, can you take us with you?"
"Take us with you, will you?"
Those who could call out Chen Fei's name must be mercenaries from whom he had previously terminated the contract.
Chen Fei, however, didn't even bother acknowledging them; while he might be an experienced driver, he wasn't about to carry anyone just because they asked.
It didn't take long for the Mobile Base Vehicle to locate the Restoration Army camp.
Without satellite positioning, Chen Fei almost mistook his location.
The ground was riddled with craters large and small as if a meteor shower had pockmarked the surface of a small asteroid, turning the terrain into a mess of pits and hollows, changing its very shape.
What was once a mighty and dignified Rock Palace was now reduced to a heap of rubble. The Dynasty Army hadn't held back in their relentless assault on the Restoration Army camp; the barrage of bombing they had subjected the mercenaries to the day before was child's play compared to the aftermath Chen Fei witnessed today.
Amidst the wreckage of the devastated camp, there was no sign of a large number of rebel troops, nor could the Southern War Zone Commander Bartona be found.
It seemed that the rebels had received an early warning, and the Dynasty soldiers guarding the prisoners did not hinder Chen Fei's passing; they allowed free access without even requiring notification.
Circling the camp, Chen Fei found the POW containment area.
The once bustling rebel camp now only had a handful of soldiers remaining, less than a hundred in all, many bearing wounds, with dispirited looks or barely clinging to life.
In order to suppress the rebellion on Zilu Continent, the Silan Dynasty's military spared no courtesy.
Spotting what seemed like the shadow of a "Mystic Fog Specter" Magical Beast, Chen Fei alighted from the Mobile Base Vehicle and hurried forward.
Approaching for a closer look, it was indeed the creature he expected.
The condition of the "Mystic Fog Specter" was dire. It lay on its side across the scorched earth, its body covered in wounds, many of its spiral spikes broken off, some even plucked cleanly from its flesh, leaving only shocking bloodied holes.
Upon hearing footsteps, the "Mystic Fog Specter" struggled to lift its head but eventually let it droop back down.
"Is that you? Chen Fei!"
The voice was not Taga's, but rather that of Langes, the original consciousness of the "Mystic Fog Specter."
"It's me! Where's Bartona?"
Chen Fei turned and waved toward the Mobile Base Vehicle, prompting Little Bird to fly over immediately.
He pointed at the Magical Beast, which was immobilized by severe injuries, and commanded, "Xiao Jiu, heal with the 'Light Healing Technique' and 'Light of Redemption.'
"Jiu!"
The Pure Light Sparrow flapped its tiny wings, settling on the body of the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter."
A white Light Orb the size of a ping-pong ball formed at the tip of its crimson beak. With a bow of its head, the sphere of light plunged into the beast's marred skin.
Starting with the more powerful "Light of Redemption" than the "Light Healing Technique," Xiao Jiu handled the Sixth Rank task with practiced ease, facing no difficulties at all.
Then it was "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique," "Light of Redemption," "Light Healing Technique," "Light Healing Technique"...
The skilled Xiao Jiu cast Light Healing Spells as if they cost her nothing at all.
A barrage of spells hit the Magical Beast "Mystic Fog Specter," and the impact was immediate. Langes's voice came through again, this time coupled with coughs.
"There's no need to waste your energy anymore. Bartona has already fallen in battle, I'm not going to make it, and 'Taga' is on the brink of death. It's over; it's all over."
Langes's voice was filled with resignation as his life's spark was close to extinguishing, beyond the help of Healing Spells and magic medicine.
"What 'Langes' said is true, it's dead, and I won't last much longer either."
A feeble wave of spiritual power emanated from within the "Mystic Fog Specter."
Unless it found a new host, a Royal Breed cannot endure prolonged exposure to impure air due to bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that could easily end the life of a Parasitic Species.
Only those of a higher status than the Royal Breeds have sufficient resistance and immunity to live independently without a host.
But within a hundred miles, where could they find a second Magical Beast similar in stature to the "Mystic Fog Specter" for "Taga" to parasitize? With the death of the "Mystic Fog Specter," the parasite within would not survive either.
"Fine! What about our deal then? Can you disclose the information about the 'Seed Nest' now?"
Chen Fei cared little for the fate of the "Mystic Fog Specter" and the Parasitic Species; he was only interested in the information he had bargained for.
Although he had not yet completed the hunting list, with an unexpected Mutant intervening, and considering the current situation with the Parasitic Species "Taga" nearing its end, it couldn't afford to wait for him to systematically fulfill the tasks on the list.
The agreed trade was not yet complete, but Chen Fei was eager to finalize it, causing Langes—a headache. And indeed, it was real pain.
"..."
"Taga" fell silent for a moment before finally responding.
"Fine, since I'm about to die, I'll give it all to you!"
A wave of spiritual power came not as a voice nor text, but as an image.
The mind's carrying content for transferring information could be varied and broad, encompassing sounds, words, dynamics, still images, emotions such as happiness, anger, sorrow, fear, and even certain realizations.
The puzzle that Chen Fei received was an image, and he would have to search for the answers himself.
"That's it?"
Why not just give the answer straight up? With death looming, why bother with these mystifications? Chen Fei's lips twitched in annoyance.
"To prevent other Parasitic Species from extracting the memory from your mind, I had to do this. Good luck!"
The spiritual wave from "Taga" quieted down.
Before he knew it, the "Mystic Fog Specter" had taken its last breath, with Langes passing on before it.
"I hate these kinds of intellectual puzzles, ptui!~"
Chen Fei recalled Xiao Jiu, pondering the enigmatic image now etched in his mind, could not help feeling utterly exasperated.
The answer was right there before him, yet it was an abstract drawing of lines: long, short, straight, curved, red, white, a colorful mess that was intricately tangled and incredibly puzzling, this impressive mystery's secret seemingly impossible to discern, leaving him utterly clueless.
