ã€ŠSky-cracking Riderã€‹


 Chapter 1: Section 1 - Ive been tricked!

    In the undting expanse of the vast Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, a peculiar buzzing noise suddenly pierced through the chaotic mountain wind.

    The air vibrated violently and the sound quickly turned into a rumble echoing between the mountains.

    A crude-looking gyronecking even an outer shell skimmed the ridge''s wild grass at high speed, gradually descending and diving toward a rtively t hillside.

    The tricycle''s three fixed wheels soon pressed down onto the gravelly ground; the roughnding causing the gyrone, colloquially known as a "tricycle," to lurch once, twice, three times before the slope neutralized its forward momentum, sliding to a stop after a short distance.

    "Warning, warning, number 4489, you have entered Aircrew Base 911''s airspace control zone, please leave immediately, Warning! Warning! No.4489, ¡­ "

    The public frequency radio on the two-seater gyrone suddenly red warnings in multiplenguages.

    The gyrone''s pilot with high brows, a prominent nose, and a face full of weathered beard picked up the radio''s handset and responded irritably, "What''s with all the yelling? Bloody hell, it''s constant nagging. I''m leaving right now."

    After a string of curses and with visible annoyance, he hung up the microphone, unbuckled his safety belt, and climbed out of his seat, still grumbling under his breath about the "melon-headed private contractors at Aircrew Base, using feathers as Mandate Arrows, precious like a dragon''s... "

    The Empire''s graveyard, and of a hundred battles, with harsh mountains and waters¡ªthe tough people of this cursednd are just so bold!

    The gyrone pilot proactively helped the passenger in the back seat unload the luggage from the rack, then skillfully gestured with his thumb, index, and middle finger extended.

    No offense meant, time to pay up!

    "I can only take you this far, a thousand Star Yuan as agreed, no receipt."

    In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, who needed a receipt for flying unregistered? "Tricycles" didn''t pay taxes, and picking up passengers was just a side hustle while going out for groceries; it wasn''t even considered a proper self-employed business, just akin to setting up a market stall.

    "Uncle, how about we use Alipay?"

    The young passenger was about to pull out his phone.

    The bearded gyrone pilot shook his AK automatic rifle that was slung haphazardly behind him, nodded towards the surroundings nonverbally, and said, "Uncle, my ass, I''m only neen this year. Electronic payment? Do you think there''s a civilian mobilemunication base station nearby?"

    His colloquial speech was definitely of Level 8 proficiency, even rarer with the regional dialect.

    Nowadays, with the education rate reaching 80% of the global poption, starting from kindergarten, children learn to read and speak. There''s even a formal oralnguage grading system, which has the great benefit of making their historical texts essible again.

    Hearing fluent dialects from economically developed regions in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was not surprising at all.

    Without the right ent or neat calligraphy, even finding a job can be tough.

    Three hundred years shift from east to west, now it''s the turn of fate, no more barbarians, the time of the Han prospers.

    "Er..."

    Only then did the young passenger notice that there were no electronic payment system stickers on the "tricycle" and realized it wasn''t by ident.

    Looking around, and due to the distance from the city''s mor, the view was excellent, and within a ten-kilometer radius, there was indeed no sight of the familiar signal poles.

    After all, the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was simply too vast, sparsely popted, and not an economic zone, no one would randomly nt poles everywhere.

    ```

    The hand that had been reaching for the phone shifted to pull out a wallet, counting out ten golden banknotes and handing them over.

    The crystal energy that had taken over as the new source of alternative energy upheld the joint currency of the Blue Star Realm and the Cangqiong Realm, the "Star Yuan," and was valid in every corner of both realms. The old currency system had been deredpletely transitioned over a decade ago, which included the physical currency of the Cangqiong Realm.

    The bnce of Star Yuan cash left in the wallet was only five yuan and eighty cents, and it wasn''t clear if it would be enough even to buy a steamed bun.

    In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the mostmon and convenient transportation was the flying "Tricycle." These cheap, double-seated gyrones didn''t have much in the way of technicalplexity, and as long as there was a t surface, one could simply g one down to take off andnd. They were economical, and sometimes not only carried people but could also take off with a donkey in tow.

    Although they weren''t fast, their speed was actually an advantage in mountainous regions. Speed has its benefits, but the steadiness of going slow was at least a guarantee not to miss the destination.

    Despite these small flyers looking a bit unreliable, their safety was guaranteed. Even if the engine failed, there was no fear of stalling as they could glide down to an emergencynding using the gyrone''s rotors. Anyway,ing back alive was not a problem.

    They were unlike the more advanced flight vehicles; in an emergency, there wasn''t even time to jump with a parachute. Falling freely with the machine, no one had a body of steel; it was naturally a total loss. It was better to rely on the "Tricycles" that roamed the mountains much like taxis.

    After neatly pocketing the cash, the neen-year-old bearded gyrone pilot tossed over a stiff paper card.

    "This is my business card; there''s a QR code on it. Call me if you''re out and about, I''m avable on demand. I''ll take you for a pot, a genuine Patan mutton pot, the taste is absolutely this." Using the flight app, themission would be taken, but direct calls to old customers were more economical for both parties.

    As he spoke, he even gave a thumbs-up. Drumming up business and selling mutton pots, this strategy could work.

    However, the handwritten name on the business card was Karzai, while the name of the pilot on the flight app was Muhammad, surprisingly not the same.

    Had he just flown with an unregistered flyer?

    "Mmm-hmm! See you!"

    Fearing to speak amiss and be greeted with a burst from an AK, the young passenger mumbled his farewell and waved to the double-seated gyrone as it fired up its engine.

    "See you next time, off I go!"

    The bearded gyrone pilot released the handbrake and the double-seated gyrone turned its head and rushed down the slope, picking up speed.

    The "Tricycle" began to eagerly bounce again; once, twice, thrice, the vehicle suddenly sank and then vanished below the slope.

    This slope did have an end, and below was a steep drop of hundreds of meters¡ªdeadly!

    "Littl..."

    The young passenger''s heart lifted as he witnessed this scene. Before he could shout out the word "little," he saw the double-seated gyrone reappear, quickly climbing with the help of an updraft, and could even hear the distant, strained singing of the bearded pilot.

    "I''m sending you away, thousands of miles apart¡­"

    What year was this old song from? He couldn''t remember!

    When the humming of the gyrone''s des stirring the air disappeared into the sky, the young passenger looked down at the electronic map and satellite positioning on his phone screen. Indeed, there was no signal from the mobilemunication base station, only the satellite position signal remained. Looking around at the deste, uninhabited mountains, he let out a long breath.

    I, Chen Fei!

    Damn, I''ve been had!

    -

    ```

 Chapter 2: Section 2 - "Fei

    Carrying arge backpack and dragging a suitcase, Chen Fei stood there in a daze for a moment before he figured out the electronic map and prepared to start off following the walking navigation directions. As he lifted his foot, he heard someone shouting.

    "Hey, I zed this trail and I nted these trees. If you want to get through, leave some cash as toll!"

    "This is a stick-up! Men to the left, women to the right, and those neither stand still where you are."

    "Come on, get serious. We''re robbing here!"

    Then there was another burst of giggles andughter.

    Chen Fei looked towards the sound and saw a row of little heads lined up on a ridge not far away, making faces at him.

    Turned out it was a bunch of brats ying tricks.

    "Ali, Amier, Maowli, you guys are acting up again. There was just a gyrone overhead. Who hase?"

    A pleasant female voice came over, and those little rascals disappeared in the blink of an eye, scattering like rats when they see a cat.

    "Hi! Hello there!"

    Chen Fei took the initiative to call out loudly.

    "Are you... the new teacher?"

    A young girl appeared in Chen Fei''s field of vision, her ponytail casually slung to one side as she stood tall and graceful on the opposite ridge.

    "No, I''m not a teacher," Chen Fei quickly waved his hand, pointed in the direction the electronic map was showing, and continued, "I am going to the 911 Aircrew Base."

    That 911 Aircrew Base, warned about on the public radio channel, was his destination.

    "Not a teacher?"

    The girl seemed slightly disappointed, but she quickly adjusted her emotions, looked Chen Fei up and down, and asked, "My name is Shen Fei, ''Shen'' with three drops of water, ''Fei'' as in fragrant grass and flowers."

    In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, it was mostmon to see native Patan People, or else members of the Ta Ethnic Group or Taimuli People. Visitors from the Northeastern directions were leastmon, even rarer than the ethnic minorities themselves.

    "Hi, I''m Chen Fei, ''Chen'' as in the Chen from the East, ''Fei'' as in right and wrong."

    Chen Fei, who had traveled such a long distance to the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area and unexpectedly met a fellow countryman, suddenly felt much better.

    At least here, he was no longer alone.

    Moreover, both of their names shared the homophonic ''fei,'' which could be considered a kind of fate in some sense.

    "Exactly, fellow viger. I''m very happy to meet you, Chen Fei!"

    The young girl crossed over the ridge and came towards Chen Fei in a mix of deep and shallow steps.

    Fellow vigers meeting each other was like long-separated brothers, and a sense of closeness spontaneously arose.

    His surname was Chen, his name was Fei. He spoke fluently without stammering, his pronunciation clear and standard, textbook-perfect. With ck hair, ck eyes, and yellow skin, he must be a fellow viger.

    Remembering Shen Fei had mentioned a "new teacher," and thinking about those kids pretending to be mountain bandits, Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Shen... Miss Shen, do you... teach here?"

    Shen Fei nodded, her sweet smile intact as she said, "Indeed, I''m a primary school teacher here. I teach all subjects, and also serve as the principal, the school nurse, the cook, and even a nanny. I have to do everything. This isn''t the ce to talk;e with me!"

    She immediately took the lead, guiding Chen Fei onward.

    Chen Fei sneaked a peek; the young girl''s face, in the prime of youth, showed some traces of mountain winds and sun.

    A young woman teaching in this remote mountain area, popted by Patan People and the Ta Ethnic Group, could not have persevered based on a moment''s impulse and passion alone.

    Chen Fei, moved, remarked, "That must be so hard!"

    "Some things must be done by someone, right?"

    Shen Fei showed noints, remaining very optimistic.

    At that moment, as they crossed the ridge, they saw arge courtyard enclosed with walls made of cement and stones.

    There were several rudimentary buildings, serving both as ssrooms and dormitories.

    The front courtyard''s floor had been poured with cement featuring a basketball hoop, and there were two cement ping-pong tables. In the back, a few vegetable plots were thriving, and scattered among them were trees of various species. One could even spot a greenhouse, next to which was a sheep pen and poultry coop, their bleats and clucks mingling together, creating a peaceful harmony.

    The light of civilization shines across the world, but not every corner shines with the same brightness. Some remote ces seem as if time has flowed backward, resembling life from over a hundred years ago, as if in istion from the rest of the world.

    Shen Fei pointed at the children ying carefreely and with a tone of reassurance, she said, "Look, there are still them, I''m not alone."

    These lovely children were the very reason she persisted, a bit bratty and rough around the edges, but when it came to ss, all listened intently and sincerely, making her efforts worthwhile.

    "Aside from those students, are you here by yourself?"

    Chen Fei looked around the vibrant farmhouse courtyard.

    In this deste wilderness, the yard was like a haven from the outside world.

    "Just me!"

    Shen Fei confirmed with a nod and then added, "Although it''s not very convenient, the locals are very warm-hearted. Oh and there is the 911 Aircrew Base, I often go there to buy things. They also help me carry some stuff. Are you still nning to go to 911? It''s about to get dark, the road might not be easy to travel, and there are wild wolves and bandits.

    Why don''t you stay here for the night and tomorrow I can have a student take you there?"

    "Wild wolves? Bandits?"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but widen his eyes. Just these students and a female teacher, how could they possibly fend off those vicious fellows.

    Shen Fei stuck out her tongue yfully and said, "Don''t worry, I don''t have anything of value here, bandits nevere. They wouldn''t rob a school. As for wild wolves, the locals regrly hunt them and throw the carcasses nearby so the wolves don''t dare to approach. Plus, I have a gun, a Type 95, a second-hand replica, but still pretty good."

    The rtively light recoil Type 95 family of guns, though a bit old, was indeed suitable for women with less strength to control. Both the lethality and uracy were guaranteed, and it was more than enough to handle emergencies involving bandits and fierce animals.

    Shen Fei looked Chen Fei up and down and said, "Have you thought it through? I still have a spare room!"

    "Thank you, but there is no need. I''m in a hurry."

    Chen Fei shook his head. Having been dyed on the road for too long, he had toplete his registration today, or the consequences would be severe.

    "Okay then!"

    Shen Fei did not persist, but instead waved at a few little boys running wild in the courtyard.

    "Amier, bring me my gun and two magazines. Also, grab a bag of bread."

    "Amier" was one of the brats who had just attempted to "verbally rob" Chen Fei.

    "Got it, Teacher!"

    One of the little boys, kicking up his heels, dashed into a room and soon came out proudly carrying a ck and shiny Type 95 automatic rifle on his back, with two loaded magazines and a bulging stic bag in his arms.

    Chen Fei''s gaze went nk.

    Following his gaze, Shen Fei guessed what had surprised Chen Fei and smiled, "Here, every family has a gun. Firearms and ammunition are necessities of life. The children learn to handle guns from a young age and know their limits. Don''t worry!"

    In Chen''s and Shen''s hometown, letting an underage child so carelessly unt a lethal weapon through the streets was simply unthinkable.

    Taking the Type 95 automatic rifle and magazines from the approaching boy, Amier, Shen Fei handed them to Chen Fei and said, "Here, take these. Consider it a loan from me. It''s for self-protection, and also a token of trust. You know how to use it, right? This is the safety, this is the fire selector, and this is the trigger. Remember the safety to avoid idental discharge.

    Take the bread for the road as well; I made it myself, it tastes quite good."

    "I can use it, thank you. But what about you?"

    Chen Fei, having immediately snapped out of his surprise, hurriedly took the gun and magazines. With the gun and magazines totaling ny bullets, he could handle small bands of bandits and packs of wolves, indeed ensuring personal safety.

    "I still have a small revolver and a few grenades."

    The warm-hearted local, Shen Fei, simply shrugged her shoulders.

    Being the only school within a hundred-mile radius, it was actually quite safe. Moreover, the local customs were tough; in case of an emergency, they would not just stand by idly.

    The Type 95 automatic rifle obtained through the 911 Aircrew Base was not just for self-defense but also held a sentimental attachment, a reminder of her home. That''s why there was a carved peachwood fish hanging from the barrel.

    There were plenty of battered AKs locally, any original factory ones were unheard of. As years went by, the inner stresses were released, and the frame had warped, mostly bing a mix of unidentified, locally made mishmash. Due to low technical demands, these old models had an exceptional vitality.

    As for sentimentality, there were hardly any precise replicas, and none with a peachwood fish tied to their muzzles except for this unique one.

    Locals would know at first nce to whom this rifle belonged.

    "Thank you, Teacher Shen, I will return the gun to you as soon as possible."

    Chen Fei once again expressed his gratitude.

    For her to lend her gun for self-defense to someone she had just met was a favor he needed to remember.

    -

 Chapter 3: Section 3 - Right Hand Grabs Rice, Left Hand Picks

    Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, he slung his Type 95 automatic rifle over his shoulder, carried his mountaineering pack, and dragged hisrge suitcase, continuing on his way.

    There was actually no path on the ground, but where many people had walked, one had formed on its own.

    The mountain school where Shen Fei worked was connected to the 911 Aircrew Base by a sheep trail that wasn''t shown on the electronic map of the phone, but in reality, it was clearly there. As long as he followed the trail, he had no worry about getting lost.

    The nearby "tricycle" driver who dropped off Chen Fei¡ªwho didn''t know whether to call him Karzai or Muhammad¡ªdid have some conscience after all, sparing him from taking a wrong turn.

    -

    Thest glimmer of sunlight finally vanished behind the mountains'' ridges, and Chen Fei finally reached the 911 Aircrew Base, situated on high ground, just before sunset. ncing at the health bracelet on his left wrist, he had taken a total of 42,531 steps that day, which was about 21 kilometers.

    The small peach-wood fish hanging on the gun''s sight seemed to be more convincing than an ID card and he breezed through the gate without any trouble.

    The personnel manager of the aircrew base was a guy who sported dark circles under his eyes every day. His name was Takar, a man of high caste but with the brown skin of a lower caste.

    Takar was enjoying his dinner, coffee chicken rice, and a small dish of lentil sauce, and he believed that eating with one''s right hand while picking one''s bum with the left was traditional, environmentally friendly, low-carbon living, and that it saved toilet paper. He thought it was worth promoting and poprizing.

    Hearing the knock, he said without looking up, "Come in!"

    Noticing the person who had pushed the door ande to his desk, Takar looked up, slightly surprised, and said, "Uh, want a bite?"

    A standardnguage proficiency rate had already exceeded 80%. Except for primitive natives who had never encountered civilized society, anyone with a basic education could understand and speak it, and even write it to some extent, though the intonation might be a bit odd, creating a new dialectal ent.

    The room was filled with the pungent smell of curry, the insanely spicy kind that almost made Chen Fei instinctively want to cover his nose, but out of politeness, he resisted the urge and said, "No thanks, I''m here to report for duty."

    After speaking, he handed over a set of paper documents across the table.

    Chen Fei didn''t mind spicy food, but this particr spicy curry made him feel vaguely ufortable, as if it were heretical and should be put on a burning stake.

    "Let me take a look."

    Takar pushed his food bowl aside and, without even wiping his hands, took the documents, leaving several shit-yellow fingerprints on the paper.

    "Chen Fei, 22 years old, undergraduate in Economics, has an older brother and a younger sister at home, not too bad. We never hire only children here. Let me see... weak Magical Elemental Affinity, no talent in spiritual power, unable to condense a Battle Qi Seed, no martial arts training, no Ability Awakening, a standardmoner. Why didn''t you continue your studies? After all, it''s a way out!"

    Takar muttered to himself as he flipped through the pages.

    Magic Elements and Battle Qi were imports from the Cangqiong Realm, and on Blue Star, people''s potential in these areas were sharply divided. Either they had Affinity for more than one element with high activity or they were dead wood with absolutely no response. It was the same with Battle Qi.

    Although people qualified to learn Magic and Battle Qi were a minority in any realm, given the poption base of Blue Star, the proportion of lucky individuals was still not as high as in the Cangqiong Realm.

    It wasn''t only the 911 Aircrew Base that refused to employ only children; after all, this was a privately contracted military base under civilian operation¡ªboth water and fire were merciless, as were bullets. In the event ofbat or idents, casualties were inevitable.

    For families with only children, the death of the sole child could equate to the end of the lineage, bringing immense social pressure that money couldn''t simply resolve. Thus, many industries andpanies followed this unwritten employment practice.

    These days, you had to rely on your savings for retirement and if you didn''t save enough retirement funds, the death of your offspring was a disaster for yourter years.

    "This employment contract grants you temporary worker benefits here: five insurances and one fund, including pensions, medical insurance, maternity insurance, disability insurance, personal ident insurance, and war stium. There''s a probation period of six months, with a monthly sry of 10,000, which goes up to 50,000 after probation.

    95% of that will be deducted for the creditpany, and you actually take home 5%. Huh? Your contract is very strange!"

    Takar looked at Chen Fei with confusion. The young man looked sharp, having reached the 911 Aircrew Base on his own, not like an idiot at all. Howe he signed such a blood-sucking contract?

    Fortunately, the aircrew base provided board and lodging, as well as work uniforms and some daily necessities; otherwise, the remaining 10% of his sry truly wouldn''t cover the basics of living.

    "I took out a personal loan."

    Chen Fei gave a bitter smile.

    He didn''t travel thousands of miles to this godforsaken ce because he wanted to; it was out of sheer necessity.

    The Chen Family was amoner family, with the eldest son, Chen Shi, preparing for marriage. He had to purchase a marital home, borrowing from every rtive and friend they knew, scraping bits from here and there. Finally, after draining both elderly family members, they barely scraped together a down payment for the mortgage.

    Just as the family tightened its belt to thest notch, Chen Meng, the naive younger sister, was sweet-talked by a high school ssmate and close girlfriend into guaranteeing arge loan for someone else at a creditpany for liquidity reasons.

    However, the ssmate, who had sworn to repay the debt quickly, shockingly ran away with her family without a trace, leaving the debt to fall naturally upon the guarantor''s shoulders. Chen Meng wasn''t the only one scammed; several unlucky kids together had guaranteed a sum that became a staggering amount of money.

    For the already financially tight Chen Family, this was like a bolt from the blue.

    It''s only natural for a debtor on the run for the guarantor to be pursued for the debt, and crying foul was no use; such financial disputes are protected byw.

    Even if the guarantors went to the police, only heaven knew when the police would be able to catch the escapees.

    Even with the of heaven wide cast, once sentenced, that money would probably never be recovered. The other party could very well be like a yellow weasel warming itself by a fire¡ªclean of any assetspletely indifferent to being scalded like a dead pig.

    Even paying for enforced execution might not be effective; they could be detained a few days only to be released to continue their carefree life, that''s how shameless they are.

    But once the younger sister isbeled a dishonest person and a deadbeat, it''s not just her own misfortune. It would also bring disaster upon her family members, with the elder brother''s loan for the marital home consequently going nowhere.

    Unable to afford a marital home, the wedding would be off!

    If the debt guaranteed by the younger sister was to be repaid, clearing the crisis of being a dishonest person, the down payment for the mortgage they had barely managed to pool would inevitably be drained.

    The result would still be the same.

    Unable to afford a marital home, the wedding would be off!

    When the entire family was out of options, Chen Fei, the second child, had to take the initiative to sacrifice himself.

    Lacking a formal job as coteral, he had no choice but to borrow 5 million Star Yuan from the creditpany, conducting a loan transfer business. By turning the guarantor''s loan into a personal loan, he didn''t pay any less in service fees. This briefly resolved the pressing problem of the Chen Family.

    To repay this debt, Chen Fei had to give up his ns for postgraduate study, pack his bags, ande to this deste ce where not even the birds would defecate to work to repay the debt, deducting the principal and interest from his sry.

    The time frame was... a lifetime, whenever the debt was paid off, that would be the end of it.

    The original n for postgraduate studies obviously went up in smoke, as the family no longer had the time nor the extra money for Chen Fei to continue his education and studies.

    The so-called five insurances and one fund were actually life insurance. In case of any idents, the personal ident insurance and the war reparations just happened to amount to the principal of 5 million Star Yuan. The creditor wouldn''t lose a penny, a true case of ''debt dies with the debtor.''

    Every day Chen Fei lived meant one more day of interest for the creditpany.

    Such loan businesses were only avable to young people fresh out of school. Companies having difficulty recruiting could get the workforce they needed while presenting it as a win-win for all parties, fulfilling everyone''s needs.

    But, for such a huge amount of debt like Chen Fei''s, only graduates from prestigious universities qualified.

    "Poor guy!"

    Takar shook his head. He didn''t know the full story behind it but could understand the miserable situation of being pursued for debt.

    After looking over the contract in front of him, he leaned backzily and said, "Alright then! You''ve passed the interview!"

    -

 Chapter 4: Section 4 - Deduct from Your Rice Bowl

    Takar, the supervisor at the 911 Aircrew Base, formally epted the employment contract and then took out a stack of documents, pushing them forward as he exined, "From now on, don''t casually borrow money from those vampires. Now that you''re here, settle down and get to work. This is the probation agreement, in triplicate. Sign and fingerprint it. Do you have a copy of your ID?

    No worries if not, there''s a copier nearby. After you pass probation, you''ll sign the formal temporary work contract."

    Takar didn''t notice the unusual gaze of the young man across the desk. He kept opening drawers until finally, he took out a card, ced it on the card reader connected to theputer, and left many shit-yellow marks on the keyboard and mouse. After retrieving the signed agreement, he then threw the card over and began rambling about matters rted to starting the job.

    "Here! This is your work card. Both your meal costs and take-home pay are on it. It can be linked to mobile payment, and this month''s meal allowance has already been preloaded. It''s also your dormitory ess card¡ªroom B13. It serves as a pass card too.

    If a door opens with it, you can enter; if not, keep your distance. Don''t ever lose it; I suggest hanging it around your neck. If you lose it,e find me immediately. Starting now, you''re a rookie at 911. Tomorrow someone will take you to get your uniform and go through your induction training."

    "Thank you!"

    Chen Fei said thanks, preparing to put away his work card.

    His agreement with the creditor was officially fulfilled; he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Luckily, there was no dy, or else a significant penalty fee would''ve been added.

    Suddenly, Takar stretched out his hand, pressed his index finger against the work card in front of Chen Fei, and said with a smirking face, "Hold on a second, rookie, are you very short of money?"

    Chen Fei honestly replied, "Yes!"

    After all, he was carrying a debt of 5 million Star Yuan and now had to indenture himself to work off the debt; iming he wasn''t short on money would definitely be a lie.

    The terms on the employment contract couldn''t hide the fact of Chen Fei''s financial distress, as it clearly stated that the creditpany would take 95% of his monthly sry, leaving him with only 5%.

    Takar''s eyes gleamed mischievously.

    The human resources manager made a sleazy gesture and chuckled lewdly.

    Bang!~

    The bowl filled with curry-topped rice flipped over in an instant, covering the head and face of the 911 Aircrew Base''s human resources manager in curry rice and chicken.

    Chen had been fed up with this creep, truly a pervert who deserved to be burnt at the stake.

    Chen Fei, always a good student who loved to learn, never hit people without reason. Of course, scumbags don''t count as people; hitting them doesn''t matter.

    "What''s going on?"

    Suddenly, the office door was pushed open, and a passerby from security, hearing themotion, came in to check the situation.

    Chen Fei, face cold, remained silent.

    The atmosphere in the office fell silent.

    Takar picked a small lump of rice from his forehead, chewed it, and swallowed, then awkwardly shook his head and acted as if nothing happened, saying, "Uh! Nothing, it''s nothing!"

    He forgot he was now using his left hand.

    Eek! What happened to tradition?

    "d it''s nothing!"

    The security personnel sized up Chen Fei for a moment, saw nothing amiss, and then left.

    Chen Fei pulled a piece of tissue from the desk, carefully wiped his work card clean, pocketed it, and said unapologetically, "Can I go now?"

    Grandpa may perform, but he doesn''t sell his body!

    You wish!?

    No wonder the wages here are specifically higher; this ce is toxic!

    The outwardly tough but inwardly weak Takar revealed his true nature, squeezed out a feeble smile, spread his hands open in a gesture of dismissal,pletelycking the courage to reprimand using his position as human resources manager, let alone make threats.

    Chen Fei''s hometown''s international status was clear for all to see.

    If anyone dared to challenge that status, there would immediately be a courier knocking on their head at their doorstep, "Bro, you''ve got mail, Eastwind Express, mission guaranteed."

    Those who disagreed verbally got a beating, and those whose hearts disagreed but mouths did not would be dragged out to suffer the same fate: to be convinced by virtue!

    I ask you, are you scared?

    The militiamen under the por tree immediately panicked, not daring to provoke.

    The pervert Takar was now panicking himself. If things escted, he was sure to lose his job.

    Not until Chen Fei mmed the door and strode away with his luggage did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, pinching his fingers together in a distraught manner andmenting, "Homosexuality isn''t illegal, so why treat me this way?"

    Chen Fei''s guess was not wrong, this ce was toxic!

    Highly toxic!

    -

    Exiting from the HR manager''s office, Chen Fei looked up to find that night hadpletely fallen, the sky was filled with stars, and a ring that emitted a faint halo slowly crossed the night sky along the crescent moon.

    That was the digital intelligence structure Cybertrom, which controlled a Stargate to another world while overseeing the entire Blue Star Humans'' civilization; it was not an alien visitor but rather a native creation of the Blue Star.

    It was a pity that he couldn''t afford the fees to travel to the Otherworld; the thought of visiting the Cangqiong Realm had to be buried in his heart.

    Beyond the "Halo" Stargate controlled by Cybertrom, there were also a few other Stargate Rings on Blue Star leading to the Primordial Realm, which connected to a resource-depleted world of endless destion. There was nothing worth seeing there but slowly crumbling ruins in a world of flying sand and rolling stones, and it was extremely dangerous.

    "New here?"

    An elderly voice brought Chen Fei back to reality.

    "Yes, yes!"

    Chen Fei quickly responded.

    A second after clearly seeing who it was, he was stunned and eximed, "A Neanderthal?"

    As remnants of the Third Era Civilization, the Neanderthals initiated the "Three Realms Integration War" thirty years ago. It was a desperate cross-realm invasion that caught the Blue Star Realmpletely off guard. Unable to withstand thebined forces of two worlds towards thetter part of the war, they were ultimately defeated - and they nearly went extinct from it.

    The human civilization of the Blue Star Realm didn''t fare much better either; as the saying goes, "When cannons go off, gold is lost by the tons." Nuclear weapons were thrown about as if they cost nothing, and that expenditure of fireworks consumed countless GDP. Many countries'' economies regressed, making life miserable for their citizens; it took at least twenty years to finally recover a little.

    Since the battlefield was also located in the Blue Star Realm itself, the natural environment spoiled by strong nuclear radiation wasn''t something that could bepletely restored with just a few decades or a century.

    Mutated creatures born from nuclear wastnds had once overrun the region, along with uncontroble deadly bacteria and viruses; it''s only in recent years that they had been somewhat contained, but the aftermath was as drastic as another "Three Realms Integration War."

    After the war, the remnants of the Neanderthal tribes chose to integrate into therge family of Blue Star Realm human civilization; at least they didn''t have to worry about being driven back to the hopeless Primordial Realm.

    In some ways, it could be considered achieving their strategic goal, but at too great a cost: the Twelve Overlord Tribes scattered and the Starry Red me g of the Supreme Council would never rise again. Their sparse poption resembled that of an endangered species.

    The Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens of the Blue Star Realm were from the same lineage; the two species had no reproductive barriers. Common folks were not too resistant to their integration. After all, Neanderthaldies andds were quite attractive (in warfare), and soon after the war, numerous hybrids like the ck Neanderthals, White Neanderthals, and Yellow Neanderthals were born.

    In a hundred or two hundred years, pureblood Neanderthals would likely be a myth¡ªa result delightfully epted by the upper echelons of the Blue Star Realm''s human civilization.

    Coming across an elder Neanderthal man in this remote aircrew base in the mountains was somewhat unexpected for Chen Fei.

    Neanderthals had distinctive physical characteristics that made them easy to identify. Both men and women, old and young, were generally tall and had special tattoos, with War Professionals bearing even denser and more striking red tattoos.

    If it weren''t for nearby lights, Chen Fei might have mistaken the glowing bald head and blood-colored tattoo-covered face for a malevolent spirit lurking in the dark.

    "Neanderthal? Such a nostalgic name!"

    The old man seemed to sink into memories and suddenly chuckled hoarsely, "Ha, I''m old, always reminiscing about the past. Hey, new rookie, what''s your name?"

    Chen Fei obediently answered, "Hello, my name is Chen Fei, the Chen of ''east'', and Fei of ''right and wrong''."

    Despite the deep wrinkles beneath his blood-colored tattoos, he knew that he was no match for the old man¡ªnot even if he were up against one of his arms or legs. The elder could effortlessly pin him to the ground and pummel him, and that''s without the elder using any Secret Techniques. If he were to deploy one, ensuring that Chen''s head would be ejected over a hundred meters away was guaranteed.

    -

 Chapter 5: Section 5 - Todays Neanderthal

    "Young man, have you had dinner? I''ll take you to the cafeteria,"

    The old man was carrying a toolbox in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, looking quite rxed and natural, probably already used to the surprised looks from people like Chen Fei.

    After all, the Neanderthal army of the Third Era Civilization had nearly beaten humanity on Blue Star to death.

    "No need, I have bread!"

    Chen Fei pointed to the stic bag hanging from his suitcase.

    Inside were hand-made bread rolls given to him by Shen Fei, enough for two meals. If he didn''t eat them while they were fresh and missed the best taste, it would be a pity.

    Hand-made bread doesn''t contain various additives, so it''s more prone to spoge if not stored properly.

    "Young man, how can you just eat bread? Order a couple of side dishes, have a drink with me ¨C I''m buying. I''ll take you to your dorm afterwards, how about that? It won''t cause any dys,"

    The old man from the Neanderthal Tribe proudly gestured with the alcohol bottle in his hand, a short, opaque, white ss bottle that Chen Fei was very familiar with.

    The senior wasn''t short on money; that one bottle alone was worth a whole month''s probationary wage for Chen Fei.

    Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then eventually nodded his head.

    Being new here, he couldn''t afford to offend people by refusing casually. Apanying a senior Neanderthal for a drink wasn''t a loss, and he might even learn more about the Aircrew Base, which could help him integrate more quickly.

    "Hmm, a teachable schr indeed!"

    The elderly Neanderthal nodded and swayed as he led Chen Fei to the Aircrew Base''s cafeteria.

    The cafeteria was open 24 hours for service, avable anytime, with flexible meal times and not many people in the spacious dining room.

    After requesting pig ears, beef tongue, and drunken fish as appetizers from the on-duty chef, Chen Fei followed the old Neanderthal man to a table and sat down.

    Just as they had settled down, a loud roaring sound came from outside.

    Looking through the cafeteria''s ss curtain wall, two propeller nes descended from the sky, one after the other. Theirnding gear touched down lightly on the brightly lit runway; they slid for a while before they started turning toward the hangar.

    Following Chen Fei''s curious gaze, the elder Neanderthal picked up a strip of pig ear with his chopsticks, took a slurping sip of alcohol, and said vaguely, "Nothing to see, A-39B, cheap toys, buzzing around in the sky like annoying big flies."

    Chen Fei acknowledged with an "Oh," retracted his gaze, picked up a drinking cup, and said, "Grandpa Barut, what about your family?"

    On the way to the cafeteria, he learned the name of the Neanderthal elder, Barut, who imed to be the younger brother of the Neanderthal hero Barka.

    His brother Barka had died in battle during the first engagement of the "Three Realms Unification War" on Socotra Ind.

    Younger brother Barut had the luck to survive thest battle where the Supreme Council Klensha Hall was destroyed by thebined forces of the Blue Star Realm and the Cangqiong Realm. He became a prisoner and lived on until now. After thirty years of drifting, he ended up at 911 Aircrew Base in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

    He, like the newbie Chen Fei, was a worker for Private Military Contractors, cared for in his old age, with no worries about where to die or be buried.

    "Family? Neanderthals don''t really have what you''d call family anymore. Nowadays, the youngsters either indulge themselves or get lost in drugs. They''ve long forgotten the glory of the Neanderthal tribe."

    Neanderthal elder Barut tapped the war patterns on his forehead with his chopsticks, the blood-red ink lighting up faintly with a silvery glow before extinguishing, as if nothing had happened, and then continued, "The descendants of the Neanderthals have almost forgotten the war patterns and the Secret Technique. Come on, eat up."

    He refilled Chen Fei''s ss effortlessly; drinking alone equates to loneliness, but drinking together creates atmosphere.

    Barut was no longer the elite Neanderthal warrior who had defended the Klensha Hall. Now he was just a lonely old man with no one to rely on, who had whimsically asked Chen Fei to join him for a drink on his way off work.

    "Huh? The braised dishes actually have an authentic vor."

    Chen Fei was surprised to find that these three side dishes hadn''t been butchered by the heretical curry influence after trying a few bites of pork belly and beef tongue.

    "Hahaha! Haha, are you trying to make me dieughing, aiming to inherit this bottle of alcohol?" Elder Neanderthal Barutughed, pounding on the table, pointing at the busy chef in the kitchen with an unmistakably mocking tone: "Don''t believe thatzybones, all he does is open vacuum packs!"

    So that''s the truth!

    Chen Fei was somewhat dumbfounded. Anyone could be a head chef if the job was like this; he too knew how to unwrap packages.

    Putting away his bigugh, Barut raised his hand to cover his mouth and said, "He''s a rtive of the personnel director Takar, hmm, you should stay away from Takar, that guy is no good."

    It seemed that who the personnel director liked had already bemon knowledge.

    "I heard that, Barut!"

    Bang! The head chef, Singh, furiously threw a dishcloth onto the countertop.

    He admitted he was rted to the aircrew base''s personnel director Takar, but he also put a lot of effort into cooking for everyone, okay?

    The reason why Singh was appointed as one of the two head chefs in the 911 Aircrew Base canteen was primarily due to Takar''s fellow townsman having low employment costs. In a world dominated by gofers, being cheap is king.

    The other head chef could prepare high-end feasts and his skill was passable. If he was as bad as this ''unpacking chef,'' the entire base might well have revolted.

    "Don''t be afraid of him, Carrot Head is all bark and no bite. Little Chen, have they decided on your position yet?"

    The Neanderthal elder Barut didn''t care at all about the ''unpacking chef''s'' enraged embarrassment. Not convinced? Bring it on and consider it post-dinner exercise. He could easily pin the guy to the ground, and then "I can''t help myself on the way back, friction, friction..." my skateboard shoes!

    "Manager Takar said someone will take me for orientation training tomorrow, and then my position will be confirmed."

    Chen Fei had onlypleted the registration process and didn''t know his position yet. He guessed that the position would be confirmed after the orientation training was over.

    Barut took a piece of bread from the stic bag on the table, took a bite, and nodded, saying, "Hmm, not bad, this bread was made by Teacher Xiao Shen, right?"

    "Eh? Grandpa Barut, you know Shen Fei too?"

    Chen Fei was quite surprised that this Neanderthal elder could distinguish the maker of the bread.

    "Everyone at the 911 base knows that girl. She''s a nice youngdy. The other head chef also makes bread, but it''s not as fluffy. The eggs he usese from feed-fed chickens andck the taste of eggs. But this is different. Being old with bad teeth, I can only eat these soft things, hmm, not bad at all, young man, bring me some more next time."

    The Neanderthal elder Barut continued to happily munch on the bread, seemingly enjoying the bread that Chen Fei brought. After devouring one in just a few bites, he even took another.

    The bread made by the other head chef Abel could knock a person senseless, a far cry from the bread made by Teacher Shen Fei from the Patan People School nearby the base, which was theplete opposite.

    Chen Fei followed suit, grabbed a piece of bread, and paired it with pig''s ears, beef tongue, and dried drunken fish, then took a swig of alcohol, finding the vor quite good.

    ...

    -

    Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

    Chen Fei was awakened by his phone''s rm clock. He opened his eyes to see the light streaming through the gaps in the vian blinds and dust particles floating in the beam of light.

    The modrly designed dormitory area B13 housed a single-person room, square and proper, no more than twelve square meters in size, just enough space for a wardrobe, a single bed, a desk with bookshelves, and a small shower-equipped bathroom.

    Even though the conditions were spartan, with barely enough space for personal activities or for additional furniture, the fully-equipped dormitory was more than satisfactory for Chen Fei.

    Being new to the ce, having stable electricity and 24-hour hot water supply was pretty good for a ce to stay.

    After a quick wash, just as he hung the towel, he heard someone pounding on the door with great force.

    There really was a doorbell, but the person outside didn''t seem to like using it.

    Thud thud thud... the knocking grew even more forceful.

    -

 Chapter 6: Section 6 - Genuine Fragrance

    "Here ites!"

    The sudden knocking startled Chen Fei, who quickly guessed its source and hurriedly opened the door.

    The sunlight that spilled into the room was momentarily blocked, as if a small mountain had abruptly appeared; he couldn''t help but widen his eyes.

    Standing outside was a tall, expressionless, and burly man who nced at Chen Fei and handed over a thick bag, saying, "Change into these clothes, and then follow me to start the job."

    A distinct, indescribable smell of machine oil hit him, and the light grey overalls could not hide the big, rippling muscles; the man was at least two meters tall, his head could easily hit the doorframe.

    With such a size, no wonder he didn''t like the effeminate tinkling of a doorbell; even his light knocking sounded like hammering.

    "Oh, thank you!"

    Chen Fei took the bag, which contained work clothes, and was about to close the door to change when he suddenly remembered something, opened the door again, and asked, "Did you just say this is for onboarding training?"

    The man had seemingly omitted the word "training" earlier.

    The man still expressionless, said, "No training, straight to starting the job, I am the chief mechanic, Xiao Ming."

    The promised onboarding training was gone; it was a push into the deep end.

    It was probably that inhuman HR manager, Takar, ying tricks, eliminating the training undoubtedly made the job much harder.

    Just arrived at Aircrew Base 911, hit with a stern challenge right away, starting off in the mechanical repair group, hell-level difficulty from the start.

    That old Neanderthal, Barut, was right about one thing ¡ª the HR manager is really not a nice guy!

    Though Aircrew Base 911 was privately contracted, it was ultimately a military unit with many secrets that could not be disclosed, especially to neers like Chen Fei, who were also not free to pry.

    However, during the drinkst night, as fellow workers, Barut still shared quite a bit, either explicitly or implied, giving Chen Fei a heads-up, preventing him from bumping into walls repeatedly.

    In return, the big bag of homemade bread that Teacher Shen Fei gave to Chen Fei ended up entirely in the stomach of that old Neanderthal man.

    So old and still such an eater!

    "Alright, just a moment, please!"

    As a rookie, Chen Fei had no right to question and had to quickly change into his work clothes, appearing once more in front of the chief mechanic, Xiao Ming.

    The light grey jumpsuit with spacious pockets made Chen Fei look rather sharp.

    "Follow me!"

    Xiao Ming didn''t say much and turned around briskly to walk away.

    He didn''t look back; walking quickly with a whoosh, his voice came again.

    "Are you specialized in aviation? Do you have a CCAR license?"

    Eagerly catching up, Chen Fei honestly replied, "No, I don''t, I am..."

    Before he could finish, Xiao Ming interrupted and continued to ask, "Do you have a pilot''s license?"

    The tone was inexplicably stern; irrelevant with the wrong profession, any question seemed redundant.

    "Uh, no!"

    Chen Fei''s mouth twitched.

    An average Joe being proud of having a car was enough, who would dare dream of flying?

    Too many drinks, perhaps!

    "Can you operate aputer proficiently?"

    The chief mechanic''s tone became even sterner, and he seemed to be in a rather bad mood.

    "Yes, yes, I can use all kinds of office software,"

    After all, he was a college graduate from a prominent university who once prepared for postgraduate studies; how could he not be familiar withputers, the most basic tools of productivity? Chen Fei quietly breathed a sigh of relief, d to know something atst.

    Otherwise, being clueless would have been really awkward.

    If he couldn''t even use aputer, the other party would probably next ask if he could even read ¡ª questions not too harmful, but highly insulting.

    In reality, he was overthinking; if he dared to utter a "no," the tall, burly chief mechanic would directly take this rookie to the cleaning team to devoutly dedicate his youth to sweeping and moving bricks.

    Having seen deeply-eyed, hook-nosed men with big beards or mid-region men with sun-burnt skin, seeing ck-haired, ck-eyed, light yellow-skinned again naturally evoked a sense of affinity.

    However, Xiao Ming was not Chen Fei''spatriot; he had Samoyed ancestry, naturally possessing a physique not inferior to Caucasians, perhaps even surpassing them.

    Due to geographic location, transportation, and safety factors, Aircrew Base 911 has always been short-staffed, and no department has ever been fully staffed, not forck of sry or benefits¡ªon the contrary, the ie levels here are not low, and the benefits, including insurance, are quite generous.

    Yet, few people want to waste their youth in this deste and bitterly cold ce where not even birds would defecate.

    Isn''t life in the big,fortable cities much more appealing?

    Even if you earn just a little extra, it''s never enough for a down payment on a house mortgage!

    If it weren''t for this, Aircrew Base would not be desperately hiring even fresh undergraduates who aren''t even qualified for the job¡ªeveryone here is a tool anyway, all you need is a human, anyone will do; working here is like being a beast of burden¡ªthere were never many requirements to begin with.

    The news of a genuine college undergraduate''s arrival had the maintenance team, which held high technical standards, rushing to scout him first thing in the morning,

    Excitedlying to knock on the door, Maintenance Chief Xiao Ming was immediately doused with a ssh of cold water; this neer wasn''t from an aviation-rted field, didn''t have a CAAR (Civil Aviation Machinery Repair License), nor an aviation license, and had absolutely nothing to do with aviation.

    His closest rtion to it was having flown a few times, just knowing how to buckle up¡ªaplete newbie, even more pristine than a nk sheet of paper.

    Due to its continuous normal flying missions, 911 Aircrew Base has generated a daily workload of maintenance and repairs that has kept the already undersized maintenance team working overtime without a moment to catch their breath, turning regr vacations into a luxury.

    However, some tasks can''t just be rushed to finish earlier; each job has its standard hours, and not a minute of work can be skimped on. Any slip-ups could lead to material losses, which are a minor issue, or might even require starting from scratch, cing additional pressure on the already overwhelmed maintenance team.

    After a series of disappointments, what relieved Xiao Ming was that this youngster knew his way aroundputers; it wasn''t as if he needed to start from scratch. Xiao Ming hoped that with his hands-on teaching and the college graduate''s learning capabilities, he wouldn''t let him down!

    911 Aircrew Base was built on a hignd with its mountain top leveled off, the 1500 meters long main runway upies two-thirds of the entire base area, fully supporting the smooth takeoff andnding of medium-sized transport aircraft.

    Althoughrge transport aircraft can also take off andnd, it requires the activation of the Maic Capturer, which consumes the entire output power of the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, potentially halting over half of the base''s electrical devices.

    A hangar asrge as a basketball arena is the tallest and most conspicuous building near the main runway, consisting of two interconnected arch-shaped buildings¡ªHangar 1 and Hangar 2¡ªalso the workce of the maintenance team.

    It''s to Hangar 1, which had already begun work, that Maintenance Chief Xiao Ming led Chen Fei. Six propeller aircraft were lined up in a row, enjoying their dedicated work area.

    Across the main aisle, two helicopters sat with aggressive weapon mounts¡ªeitherrge-caliber machine guns or rocket nests¡ªand there were two empty mounting points on either side, possibly for missiles, giving off a tough look.

    In stark contrast to the bustling activity in Hangar 1, a group of seven or eight guys upied a small area; some were exercising with gym equipment, othersy on beach chairs, nonchntly drinking beverages, some wore headphones, their eyes closed as they enjoyed the music, and some were engrossed in reading thick books, while others scrolled through their phone screens.

    None of them were doing any proper work, instead engaging in various activities.

    One of them, noticing Xiao Ming and Chen Fei, immediately burst into an exaggerated cry,

    "Hey, Captain Xiao Xiu, you''re early today. And who''s the new guy beside you? He looks unfamiliar. Hei-mo-hei-mo..."

    He even winked at Chen Fei, disying a slick and incorrigible demeanor.

    "It''s none of your business, Yamada!"

    Maintenance Chief Xiao Ming snapped back, irritated.

    Chen Fei struggled to maintain a harmlessly stiff smile, uncertain of what to say.

    Yamada¡ªdefinitely not a real name.

    "Hey, little bro, fancied doing some ''machine'' work?"

    A short-haired girl licked her lips at Chen Fei, holding arge dumbbell. Her smooth, chocte-colored skin stretched tight over clearly defined muscles. She wore a cropped sports bra¡ªpack-ab below, small bust above.

    Doing ''J¨©''?

    Is it ''machine'' or ''maiden''?

    Also, who''s the little bro?

    Chen Fei was a bit dazed. What exactly did the short-haired maiden mean by that!

    "Back off, he''s my man!"

    Xiao Ming solemnly dered Chen Fei''s affiliation.

    ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õ

    This, this seems even more ambiguous!

    "Tss! Machine Bro!"

    The spirited short-haired girl flicked her middle finger at the tall and burly Maintenance Chief.

    In Aircrew Base, the maintenance team has a nickname "Machine Bro," known for working intensely on machines along with the flight squadron''s crazy ones, meant in the most literal sense, nothing else.

    The big boss of the flying squadron is not here at the moment, otherwise, he could have exchanged a few more caustic remarks with the Machine Bro leader.

    "Ignore them. The flight squadron guys only know how to talk."

    Xiao Ming lifted his fists, the size of mortar bowls, squeezed them tightly, and proudly dered, "Our maintenance team can fix aircraft, and we can fix them too!"

    With arms thicker than Chen Fei''s thighs, thetter was speechless. Boss, whatever you say goes.

    A mixed-race Samoyed with purely natural muscle bumps, inherently reinforced with Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training and Iron Shirt Golden Bell Cover, 360-degree absolute defense, a mere sight of which was intimidating. Pitted against the right opponent, he really didn''t need to fear anyone.

    -

 Chapter 7: Section 7 - Lesson 1

    The members of the flight squadron burst out into a baffling bout ofughter at the backs of Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming and the neer Chen Fei.

    The arrival of a neer in the maintenance team seemed to have given the bored flight squadron an amusing diversion.

    Whenever a clueless rookie appeared, it often added a good deal of conversation topics to the dull, monotonous life on the base.

    The interior of Hangar 1 was quite spacious,fortably amodating six propeller-driven light attack aircraft and two armed helicopters, with plenty of room left over for rows of neatly arranged shelves and even stacks of standard shipping containers.

    One of these containers had been converted into the maintenance team''s office, furnished with several sets of tables and chairs and a whole row of personal lockers, allowing space for folding beds to catch a nap during breaks.

    "Sit!"

    Leading Chen Fei into the container office, Xiao Ming pointed to a chair and turned to bring over arge dining tray filled with two bowls of white porridge, a te ofrge steamed buns, a dish of bacon and fried eggs, a salty vegetable tter, and arge jug of milk, quickly filling the air with the aroma of food.

    He handed Chen Fei a set of bowls and chopsticks, saying, "This is breakfast, let''s eat together!"

    "Thanks!"

    Chen Fei did not stand on ceremon, grabbing a bowl of porridge and eating it with a steamed bun, fried eggs, and several small salty dishes, slurping it down heartily.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming lived up to his build, wrapping up all of Chen Fei''s leftover food, including therge steaming jug of milk.

    After clearing his te and bowl, Xiao Ming brought over a cardboard box and pushed it in front of Chen Fei.

    "Here, this is your workputer."

    Chen Fei nced at the packaging, somewhat surprised.

    Inside was not just aputer but also thetest model of tablet, the printed specifications on the packaging showed it was light and thin, with local hardware performance that was notcking and supported cloud technology, far surpassing his old clunker of aptop from his university days, with included cloud service and hardware performance benefits from cloud hardware eleration service.

    "Turn it on, grab this specialized data cable, ande with me!"

    Xiao Ming tossed over a cable that looked like a snake and headed out of the container office without hesitation, with no intention of introducing Chen Fei to his other colleagues in the maintenance team.

    Whether or not Chen Fei would ultimately be approved to stay in the maintenance team was still up for debate.

    If he wasn''t up to snuff, he would still be relegated to the custodial team to sweep floors and haul bricks.

    In fact, the maintenance team was so busy from morning till night that they hadn''t even noticed a new member had joined.

    The specialized data cable had ends glinting with 24K gold, undeniably luxurious, and was long enough to be used as a jump rope.

    Chen Fei cradled the tablet taken from the box and wrapped the data cable around his wrist, hurrying to keep up.

    Despite having never eaten pork, he had seen pigs run, and he easily located the power button, pressing it to light up the screen which quickly loaded the standard desktop in just a breath.

    Grasping one end of the data cable, he shoved it directly into the tablet''s port, achieving connection on his first try.

    The obsolete foolproof design had been discarded long ago, thepatible universal data port and special protocol recognition ensured mistake-free connections that would never damage either device.

    Arriving at the work area, Xiao Ming patted the underbelly of a propeller-driven ne waiting for maintenance, saying, "This here is the A-39B light attack aircraft.

    It has a name, ''Big Mouth Monster.'' It''s an upgraded recement for the A-29 ''Super Big Mouth Bird,'' optimized with a long-life turbine engine, improved load and endurance, and most significant is its capability to carry and deploy Louis Industrial Company''s KDK-1 suction-type hypersonic intelligent missile, whose power is enough to kill a giant dragon, the KDK-1 is also known as the ''Dragon yer Missile,'' not even the Metallic Dragons could escape unscathed."

    The A-29 "Super Big Mouth Bird" also has a silly twin sibling named B-250, a simplified version thatcks a wing-mounted cannon, has one fewer propeller de, two additional attachment points, and a 50% increase in endurance and range, better suited as a reconnaissance and patrol aircraft.

    "Dragon ying?" Chen Fei gasped in shock.

    Since the "War of the Fusion of the Three Realms" ended thirty years ago, apart from the remnants of the Third Era Civilization, the collective migration of the Neanderthal tribe to the Blue Star Realm and even the Cangqiong Realm, and the resource-depleted Primordial Realm falling silent, the still-vibrant Blue Star Realm and Cangqiong Realm had seen increasingly frequent exchanges, epassing more than just economic and cultural fields, as many extraordinary creatures came to the Blue Star Realm through various channels, including, naturally, the life-dominating giant dragons.

    ording to a series of agreements reached between the Blue Star Realm and the Cangqiong Realm, there are respective uses indicating that if a threatening creature (including but not limited to the Dragon n) causes innocent casualties and destruction, the civilization where that threatening creature resides has the right to kill it to terminate the threat.

    The vast majority of dragons are peaceful and friendly, except for the Metallic Dragon n.

    Located in near-Earth orbit, the "Halo" Dimensional Gate is managed by the digital intelligence assembly, Cybertrom, but on the side corresponding to the Cangqiong Realm, it is guarded by the entire Metallic Dragon n.

    The civilian names for this dimensional gate in both realms arepletely different, even diametrically opposed.

    On the Blue Star side, it is called "Guardian Ring," whereas in the Cangqiong Realm, due to some taboo topics, it is called "Annihtion Ring;" not targeted at each other, but each formed from some bizarre reasons.

    The special kill authorization usesrgely target not only the easily uncontroble magical beasts but also to prevent the thoughtless Metallic Dragons from suddenly leaving the "Halo" and causing trouble everywhere.

    The Metallic Dragon n, which feeds on metal, has now found a new evolutionary inheritance and has be the digital dragon lineage, capable of causing exceptionally great destruction, especially to the human civilization of the Blue Star Realm.

    The increasingly difficult-to-manage digital dragon species must have corresponding checks and deterrents.

    Hence, the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile, known as "Dragon yer Missile," was developed, which records the characteristics of the Dragon n in its recognition database, with an effective range of 300 kilometers, particrly with a very high hit rate within 100 kilometers; if targeted by three "Dragon yer Missiles" simultaneously, the probability of annihtion is nearly 100%.

    Such a dominating and fierce weapon is referred to as "Dragon yer Missile" for a reason; once it hits, it instantly turns everything within the st radius to dust and ashes, and even the tough-skinned giant dragons cannot withstand such a fatal blow.

    "There! That''s the constant humidity weapon box for the ''Dragon yer Missile''. It needs to be charged and decoded before officially being mounted, handled by the weapons team and also involves the use ofputers and data cables."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming indicated the edge of the dedicated work area, where six rectangr silver boxes were stacked together, with the surface of each box also marked with KDK-1, the production date, serial number, and Louis Industries among other inscriptions.

    Such a massive weapon is usually in a dormant state and is not easily deployed unless a very severe event urs.

    "Open the ''Sky Eye Cloud Inspection'' app, first register a personal ount, remember to enter your work card number, and let me know once you''re done so I can authorize you."

    Xiao Ming step by step guided Chen Fei on how to operate the new productivity tool, a tabletputer using a customized encapsted system with an integrated special key chip, which had been debugged and would automatically connect to the hanger''s WIFIwork upon startup.

    "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" is an aviation maintenance software customized by contractors at the 911 Aircrew Base to assist employees in maintaining aviation equipment.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao''s way of training neers was simple, crude but effective; hands-on is the quickest method, pushing theoretical basics aside.

    Directly handling this light attack aircraft allows Chen Fei to quickly familiarize himself with the basic work of the maintenance team.

    The advantage of this approach is quick familiarity with the A-39 light attack aircraft''s modrposition andmon faults. However, the drawback is also apparent: it tends to create a biased skill set, and if other models are encountered, he will bepletely unprepared, necessitating starting from scratch.

    As the saying goes, the master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to the individual; if you want to handle moreplex and difficult tasks, you need to spend more time umting bit by bit. There''s no shortcut, one has to consciously and voluntarily make up for theck in basics.

    "Now that the authorization isplete, log out of the ount and then log back in, try plugging in this ''Big Mouth Monster,'' andunch the inspection module of the aircraft."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming skillfully opened the maintenance panel within the work area of the A-39B light attack aircraft, letting Chen Fei connect the other end of the dedicated data cable connected to the tablet, to the corresponding port on the panel, still using the familiar universalpatibility data interface.

    Drip!~

    A signal light on the maintenance panel lit up and quickly changed from a shing yellow to a steady green.

    The five-inch LCD screen disyed the words "Maintenance Mode" and "Device Discovered, Connecting..."

    Another shing blue signal light then lit up.

    In the maintenance team, plugging in is the mostmon operational step.

    If you cannot even plug in, then what is the point of living?

    -

 Chapter 8: Section 8 - Sunflower Seeds, Peanuts, Beer, Airplane...

    "Connection sessful, recognizing device IPv6.Fe80:1c57:6c9d:30a9:4fC5|ID Name: A-39B SN:AFO0058568"

    "Connection sessful, recognizing device IPv6.Q1ed:9xTF:00ED:S557:5A3b|ID Name: Note PAD User: Chen Fei, Work ID: 911-95533"

    The interface of the "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" on the tablet and the LCD screen of the A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" simultaneously disyed prompts.

    "First, perform a quick self-check to examine each integrated module of the aircraft. If there are no issues, proceed with specialized in-depth tests, focusing on sensors,munication of avionics systems, flight control modules, and engineponents."

    As a young man and a university student, Chen Fei quickly became familiar with the basic operations of the professional maintenance software "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" under the one-on-one guidance of Xiao Ming, the chief airne mechanic.

    The basic maintenance work for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft did not require disassembling the aircraft into pieces. By connecting a dedicated data cable to the on-boardputer''s maintenance module, the tablet could obtain data sent from sensors in eachponent, giving a general understanding of the aircraft''s current state.

    If a fault was discovered, it could be described in one sentence, "rece whatever is broken, So-easy!"

    The "Big Mouth Monster" had a high degree of integration, even incorporating quick-release designs, allowing modules and assemblies to be easily disassembled and reced without many tools and equipment.

    As a professional aviation maintenance software, "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" had even more advanced andplex functions. With the limited ess that Chen Fei, a rookie, had just acquired, he could only use the basic mode. Above that, there were intermediate, advanced, and Siege Lion modes.

    After instructing Chen Fei on how to use "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection," Xiao Ming said very seriously, "Always remember the most important ''Hein''s Rule'': behind every severe ident, there are inevitably 29 minor idents, 300 near misses, and 1000 potential hazards."

    If a fighter pilot sacrifices himself in an aerial duel, even if the ne is destroyed and the pilot is killed, it can only be attributed to his lesser skills, fate, or destiny.

    But allowing a sick fighter to take off, thereby causing unnecessary damage or even casualties, is murder and cannot be forgiven.

    A ne flying for a minute in the sky requires ten times that in maintenance on the ground, and nothing can be overlooked.

    The job of the maintenance team is to ensure that the Sky Knights go into battle with reliable weapons ande back alive as much as possible.

    Following the instructions of Xiao Ming, the chief mechanic, Chen Fei carried a dedicated data cable and plugged it into every aircraft in Hangar 1, not sparing even the two armed helicopters.

    Armed helicopter: ¨“¨Œ¨“

    "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" supports not only the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft but also includes hundreds of other aircraft models, incorporating most of the modified models in the series.

    Choosing the most remote idle workspace next to a workbench, Chen Fei, with a furrowed brow, held a thick "Big Mouth Monster" technical manual (A) andpared the data just retrieved by the "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" software on his tablet with it, when someone pushing a small cart walked in.

    "Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, airne cups, space cups, anyone interested?"

    Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, uh... it seems like something strange got mixed in.

    In fact, even condoms are military supplies. Anything rted to the military isn''t strange; it''s just umon.

    Chen Fei''s ears pricked up, and he looked up towards the sound to see a simple-faced man with single eyelids pushing a cart full of items around the hangar.

    The man did not approach the workspace but merely circled around the guys from the flight squadron. The maintenance team was unfazed, seeming already ustomed to it and let him shout his wares while they continued with their tasks.

    "Pu Aihua, bring a dozen Qingdao beers and a packet of fried peanuts."

    One of the men ying poker called out.

    "Alright,ing right up!"

    The man addressed hurriedly took the items from his cart and scurried over with them.

    With the opening of beer and peanuts, others soon asked for chips, chocte, and other snacks.

    The flight squadron was the highest earning group at the Aircrew Base; all departments revolved around them, and each pilot was quite well-off.

    After clearing out a tenth of his cart''s inventory, Pu Aihua made another round of the workspace.

    Besides those pilots, he sometimes managed to make a sale or two from the maintenance team. No matter how small a mosquito leg is, it''s still meat; how could he pass up the chance for extra ie if he could make a sale?

    "New here?"

    The cart kept rolling and finally stopped in front of Chen Fei, the simple-faced man blinking his single eyelids, curiously sizing up the young man.

    "Hello, I''m Chen Fei, the new guy in the repair team, it''s my first day on the job."

    Chen Fei hurriedly put down the thick and heavy technical manual, with stacks of BCDEFG by his feet, almost as tall as Pu Aihua''s small cart. In this era of digital documents and e-readers, paper books were still not obsolete, bing an important carrier for high-quality literary readings and technical publications.

    The other party shook hands with Chen Fei, surprised but devoid of the arrogance typical of old employees, instead, he humbly said, "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you, I''m Pu Aihua, from Goryeo. I assist Chef Abel in the cafeteria and do some small trading on the side. Want to buy something? I have everything, all reasonably priced."

    The Aircrew Base didn''t have a convenience store, which let this shrewd and meticulous guy seize the opportunity to get himself a small cart. He would buy and sell in his spare time, making a little money to supplement the family ie. As he was respectful and always smiling, keeping a low profile, it made him hard to be angry with.

    Over time, everyone turned a blind eye, tacitly allowing Pu Aihua to peddle his goods in his spare time.

    When the other party tried to do business with him, Chen Fei quickly waved his hands and said, "Thanks, but I don''t need anything for now."

    He was deep in debt and broke, with no spare cash to waste.

    "No worries, it''s fate that we met, consider this a weing gift, a token of friendship. How about this? Newly arrived ''Flyers'' cup, very useful and very smooth. If not this, the ''Space'' cup is also very practical, drinking more hot water is good for your health."

    This Piao was indeed good at business, directly taking items from the cart, insistent on giving something to Chen Fei, even if it was for free.

    Even if the business didn''t go through, the goodwill remained, and maybe, he might patronize some of his business in the future.

    Give and take, what you give, you get.

    However, the ''Flyers'' cup and ''Space'' cup, inside and outside the atmosphere, felt like a harmonious pair.

    "No, really, I don''t need it, thank you!"

    He firmly refused to take the two cups being pushed at him as if they were hot coals.

    The two pushed and shoved for a while, until Pu Aihua finally gave up, sighing, "There''s really no helping it!"

    Just when Chen Fei thought this guy was about to give up, Pu Aihua turned around and brought out a small nest made of inteced twigs and grass.

    "This is a magical beast egg that was given as an extra gift when I was stocking up. It''s really free, please ept it, otherwise you''d be disrespecting me, Pu Aihua, and I would be very upset, which could have serious consequences."

    It was as if Chen Fei''s refusal to ept the free bird egg was a personal slight against Pu Aihua.

    A magical beast egg?

    Chen Fei, bemused, looked at the naturally made bird''s nest, centered around a soft greenish egg no bigger than that of a quail. It was just an ordinary bird''s nest and egg, yet another instance of a merchant''s gift of deceit!

    Magic beasts were a specialty of the Cangqiong Realm across from the "Halo" Dimensional Gate; even the weakest magical beast had a significant price. Didn''t this business-savvy guy have any clue about that?

    Not even someone with a mine at home would casually gift a magical beast egg to a person they just met for the first time. That was worse than wasting money, sheer folly.

    "If it hatches into a powerful magical beast, you''ll have made a fortune."

    But Pu Aihua, with full sincerity and a smile that brooked no refusal, again aggressively handed over the nest to Chen Fei, along with an extra lovely paper box.

    If he didn''t ept it today, there would be no end to it.

    "Alright! I''ll ept this gift, thank you, Brother Pu."

    Having no other choice, Chen Fei reluctantly took the feather-light charming little nest.

    If he didn''t ept it now, the other party would surely persist, potentially impacting his work.

    This was his first day on the job, and if he didn''t make a good impression on his bosses, his future might not look so bright; he might even get metaphorically tripped up.

    "Open-hearted, you get busy, I won''t disturb you anymore. If you need something, juste find me!"

    Pu Aihua nodded firmly, patted Chen Fei''s arm, iming non-disturbance while having taken up several minutes more before finally happily pushing his cart away from hangar one to continue pestering other departments.

    With the bird nest in hand, Chen Fei wore a helpless expression, wondering what exactly had just happened.

    Was he just bamboozled?

    -

 Chapter 9: Section 9 - Drunk Bear Goes Online

    "Hey, kid, you''ve been duped and now you owe that guy a favor."

    The short-haired girl from the Combat Flight Squadron couldn''t stand it anymore and took the initiative to inform Chen Fei, who was still hesitant and didn''t know how to deal with the bird''s nest and eggs.

    After handling business with the Combat Flight Squadron, Pu Aihua took a long detour, and when he approached this rookie, a few guys from the squadron started betting secretly whether the rookie would be fooled by Pu into losing his bearings and honestly coughing up the money.

    But nobody expected that Chen Fei was actually destitute, a true millionaire in debt, who traveled thousands of miles to the Aircrew Base 911 to work off his debts and had no spare money to waste.

    No matter how persuasively the shrewd Pu Aihua talked until his mouth was dry, this guy remained as stingy as a steel rooster, not willing to part with a single cent.

    Having no other choice, Pu Aihua had to bluff, unwilling to give up the loli without catching the pervert, presented a bird''s nest and eggs he picked up somewhere, pretended they were Magical Beast Eggs, and gave them away in a strategic retreat to cunningly obtain a favor from the inexperienced Chen Fei.

    Sometimes, a favor is like an ant hole in a dike, which once it bes a breakthrough, can lead to an uncontroble situation.

    Being a college graduate after all, Chen Fei was no fool, just inexperienced. After someone pointed it out, he finally realized.

    Damn, he had been schemed against again, the cunning merchant!

    Seeing Chen Fei''s bewildered face, the pilots burst into schadenfreudeughter, the long-awaited fun finally began.

    Every rookie arriving at the Aircrew Base 911 always got into various embarrassments, which was the most relished topic among all the old birds.

    Fortunately, he had not really paid any money. Chen Fei forced a smile, shook his head, set aside the box containing the bird''s nest, and picked up the "Big Mouth Monster" manual again to thoroughly understand its content.

    If he couldn''t grasp the technical details of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft, merely using the basic functions of "Sky Eye Cloud Inspection" wouldn''t be enough. Undoubtedly, the towering Chief Mechanic Xiao would demand higher standards from him.

    Chen Fei''s idea was undoubtedly correct.

    To stay in the mechanics team, like everyone else, he had to understand these airnes thoroughly. With Chief Mechanic Xiao''s temperament not tolerating any imperfections, mere entry-level skills had no ce here.

    asionally ncing over, Xiao Ming saw Chen Fei still burying his head in diligent study and couldn''t help but nod in approval.

    Although he was a rookie, at least he had some ambition; leading him would be somewhat easier.

    Just as Xiao Ming was about to lower his head and continue his work, a shrill rm suddenly rang in his ears.

    At the top of the two hangars, multiple red lights shed continuously.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming shouted without hesitation, "First Level Combat Readiness! Attention everyone, first levelbat readiness, activate Hangar 2!"

    He was deeply rmed, wondering what had happened that had triggered such a rare red alert at Aircrew Base 911.

    Hangar 2 housed the treasures of Aircrew Base 911, including two U.S.-made MiG-28 jets which, after removing the dust covers and conducting a brief inspection, could enter thebat preparedness program. They could soar into the blue skies in no time, even faster than the "Big Mouth Monsters" in Hangar 1.

    The era when sovereign nations rolled up their sleeves and personally entered into ghastlybat, leaving corpses everywhere and rivers of blood, had long since passed.

    The proxy wars that had roared for half a century also came to a close after knocking brains out.

    The never-ending strife among the human civilizations of the Blue Star Realm took a new turn in the present war scenario, with private military contractors bing major yers in military conflicts around the world.

    It was essentially like a boss pulling out a phone, making a payment, and immediately some areas exploded into war, with countless steel and concrete turning to dust, ending with a positive review... This form of APP warfare, social opinion also weakened due to the difficulty in pinpointing culprits.

    Cases of mistaken targets weremon, and sometimes it was utterly impossible to find out who was behind it, perhaps even a dog¡ªwho the hell knew?!

    Despite the "the bolder one is, therger the war" responsibility system of military contracts being adhered to, private military contractors could never obtain sovereignty-level active equipment regardless of circumstances. The technology gap was mandatory, and the chess yers would not allow controlled opposition to spiral out of control.

    Thus, it was predetermined that the scale and intensity of wars would not escte too much, with banned superweapons like ton-level thermobaric bombs, cluster bomblets, electromaic railguns, particle beams, and other directed-energy and nuclear weapons never appearing on battlefields.

    Being able to procure resuming production of previous-generation military equipment like the MiG-28 indicated considerable influence and deep connections.

    The mechanics team began wrapping up their operational process. The six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft stationed in Hangar 1 were in good shape, consistently maintained and even minor issues wouldn''t affect flight safety, making them easy to handle.

    The inspection procedure took up most of the work time, requiring patient meticulousness, but if the fighter jets needed to be deployed urgently, they could be made ready in just a few moments.

    The two precious aircraft in Hangar 2 swiftly undressed, joining the six "Big Mouth Monsters" in allowing the long-standing standby fuel and weapons crews to swarm over them, refueling, pressurizing, and loading ammunition, all bustling and rushing about.

    It wasn''t just the maintenance team on standby daily in the hangar, but several ground crews rted directly to the fighter jets also remained stationed there. The Combat Flight Squadron always arranged for people to rotate shifts, not leaving the base even when there were no flying orders, just in case of any emergencies where someone needed to be found immediately.

    The loudspeaker inside the hangar continuously broadcasted the coordinated announcements from various units of Aircrew Base 911.

    nearly two hundred people dedicated their service exclusively to one Combat Flight Squadron, which included two American-made MiG-28 Jet Fighters, six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft and two Z-9 armed helicopters tasked with scavenging.

    "Weather report: clear skies with an effective visibility of 11.3 kilometers, current ground temperature 23 degrees Celsius, wind direction 281, wind speed 3 knots, air pressure 29.5."

    "Ground crew report, takeoff andnding runway open."

    "Communications report:munications channels are normal, free from interference, a dedicated encrypted channel has been established to guarantee security."

    "Control tower report,batmand system linked to standard data chain, confirming mission information."

    "Radar team reports, unidentified flying object detected, bearing 117, 160 kilometers away, altitude 6800 meters, quantity one, speed 1.5 Mach; electromaic feedback strong, clutter traits excluded, database identifies it as a Metallic Dragon, confirming mission target."

    "Security team report, all personnel in position, First-Level Combat Readiness."

    "Anti-air group report, anti-aircraft machine gun positions ready, anti-air missile readiness countdown one minute."

    "Ammunition crew report, requesting authorization to activate ''Dragon yer Missiles,'' quantity ten."

    "Fourth station crew report, operationsplete, beginning withdrawal."

    "Tractor crew report, tow tractor entering the operational area."

    "Search and rescue team report, ready to deploy at any time."

    "I am the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, Morris Morgan. This is a fight for all of us. For the bonus, please give it your all, fight!"

    Talking about ideals, sentiments, or the future with workers is nonsense; talking about money is the real deal.

    Taking down a Metallic Dragon not only provides the mission bonus but also its intrinsic value. Just thinking about it is enough to suppress the overwhelming excitement of bing rich.

    Immediately, the morale surged throughout the entire base, with each unit operating systematically and without panic, running the emergencybat procedures smoothly.

    Is the battle going to start now?

    The newbie Chen Fei felt extremely nervous; having just arrived, he was about to enter intobat, and against the ferocious Metallic Dragon at that¡ªdamn, this ce is truly cursed!

    The biology knowledge of Cangqiong Realm had long been included in the elementary school textbooks of Blue Star Realm; no one was unaware of the Dragon Race and Magical Beasts.

    "Are you all prepared? Ugh! Comrade Chekhov is already starving for action! Ugh! Hoorah! Ugh..."

    The loud voice of Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, themander of the Combat Flight Squadron, carried over from afar, reeking of alcohol and continuously burping, and he was even holding a bottle of Blue Star Erguotou.

    Last night, he was on a night flight patrol duty, returning only in thete night. He drank so much that his face red red and his neck swelled, and it was nearly dawn when things finally wrapped up.

    He was still in a sleep haze when he was awakened by the base-wide rms, immediately grabbing a bottle of 65-degree Blue Star Erguotou from the bedside, and took a few gulps as a revival drink to clear his mind.

    "I''ve roamed the Jianghu for more than forty years; what does drinking and flying amount to?"

    In a rush, he hurried to Hangar 1, still unwilling to put down the bottle.

    -

 Chapter 10: Section 10 - You Cannot Fly Straight When Drunk

    "Report to Major Chekhov, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron has assembledpletely, with seventeen due and seventeen present!"

    The 911 Aircrew Base''s mainbat force, seventeen pilots stood neatly in two rows. The vice squadron leader was that short-haired girl, with her eight-pack abs and a bust size that''s an A ¨C any bigger and, under high G-forces, she would punch herself silly with a deadly uppercut.

    At the sound of the first rm, the leisurely pilots in Hangar 1 sprang up like a disturbed henhouse, all bouncing into action.

    Those working out abandoned their gym equipment without even wiping off sweat, jumping into their anti-g suits still reeking of perspiration; those ying poker tossed their cards aside without a second thought, leaving their bets of Star Yuan notes unimed; those who had been eating and drinking immediately got their act together, hurriedly and clumsily getting dressed for duty.

    Those who were still catching up on sleep in their quarters rushed over, shuffling along with their shoes half-on and clothes in hand, tumbling and scrambling to get there.

    The 911 Aircrew Base''sbat flight squadron is oddly named "Genuine Fragrance", which sounds quite peculiar indeed,cking the fierce and majestic aura, as if chosen at random. Yet, when connected to the pilots'' call signs, it starts to make a bit of sense.

    Squadron Leader Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov goes by the call sign "Peanut Butter", and the vice squadron leader, the short-haired girl Iline Rusios, uses the call sign "Devil Pepper", with others adopting various condiment sauces as their flying monikers.

    All these seasonings gathered together, Emmm... genuinely fragrant!

    It also implies a ravenous hunger for battle.

    Squadron Leader Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, with a bloated belly and puffing with the stench of alcohol, strolled around and bellowed, "Comrades, good, uh! Comrades, thank you for your hard work. Let''s start checking thebat tasks, uh! Anyone fancy a drink?"

    He shook his head, feeling absolutely great.

    Drinking kept the brain alert, no flying in a straight line, and nobody could shoot the transcendentally awesome Comrade Chekhov down from the skies.

    A randomly moving Brownian motion curve is unpredictable. Unless you close your eyes and blindly shoot, using probability to counter chaos, it''s impossible to guarantee any hit rate.

    The justification he found for drunk flying was so ingeniously unique it left one speechless.

    Utterly convincing!

    None of the 17 pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron said a word. Erguotou and Na Zi were the squadron leader''s creed; no one wanted trouble for themselves.

    Seeing no one respond, Chekhov, feeling somewhat disappointed, twisted the bottle cap, pulled down the zipper of his anti-G suit, stuffed the bottle down into his crotch, and thrust out his hips, as if ready to warm up a drink to face Hua Xiong.

    "201 ready!"

    "202 ready!"

    Two MiG-28 jet fighters from Hangar 2 were towed by the tug crew, one behind the other, passing the gate of Hangar 1 and heading to the open apron near the main runway.

    201 and 202 were the identification codes of these two MiG Big Babies. The "Made-in-USA MiG" was a joke of sorts, the original being the remenced strategic reserve production line of the F-20 "Tiger Shark" jet fighter. This once export celebrity, designed to match the Soviet MiG-21, the second-generation benchmark, could do anything the MiG could.

    It could even carry AIM-7 Sparrow missiles for BVRbat. Having upgraded its avionics and engine, it still proved to be an ageless sword with great cost-performance ratio: carrying more and flying further, definitely an air dominance weapon for military contractors. Those little turboprops would only be scattered in pieces.

    You can''t underestimate the second-generation king; not even third-generation jets could necessarily outperform the revived production of the F-20.

    If you think that higher model numbers mean stronger fighting capabilities, that would be a huge mistake.

    After restarting the old production line to generate revenue, the manufacturer, Northrop Grumman Corporation, pped a MiG-28bel on it and took it to the market (to hoodwink).

    By what right can the Pr Bear make a MiG-27 and the Bald Eagle not a MiG-28?

    Outrageous!

    What''s integrity, can you eat it?

    Besides, one is odd-numbered, and one is even-numbered, isn''t that just right?

    The Mikoyan Bureau, with one foot in the coffin and the other in the museum: (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã£©¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß

    Under the left and right wings of the jet fighters, two red missiles hung, their three intake ports on the warhead surface making them stand out.

    Following and ready, the six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft also had a red missile hanging from the underbelly hardpoint.

    The fuse module part of the warheadbat unit pulsed with a flickering blue Angel Eye glow, signifying that the missile was preliminarily activated and ready to beunched at any moment.

    ```

    The Aircrew Base really went all out this time, as they outfitted the entire "Genuine Fragrance" squadron with the "Dragon yer Missiles," capable of posing a lethal threat to the Dragon n. The KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile was activated and entered standby mode.

    This urgent mission''s target was a Giant Dragon, and not just any, but a rare Metallic Giant Dragon. Although everyone appeared calm and ready for battle, deep down, there was a palpable sense of panic.

    The participation of the Dragon n from the Cangqiong Realm was a decisive factor in the downfall of the Primordial Realm''s Neanderthal tribe.

    Thebat power of the Giant Dragons truly crowned them as Masters of the Firmament, not to mention the current Dragon King hailed from the Metallic Dragons¡ªa bunch that was particrly ferocious, challenging capable foes and dragging out those who were not for a fight.

    The "Dragon yer Missile," which was specifically developed with the Dragon n in mind, might just get a chance to taste blood this time.

    Boom!~

    A thunderous roar resembling rolling thunder came from the distant horizon.

    "Roar!~"

    A soul-shivering howl reached everyone''s ears, making it seem as though even the clouds were trembling.

    The Metallic Giant Dragon arrived unexpectedly fast.

    "Ascend! Everyone, ascend!"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron boarded a vehicle from the crew transport and headed towards the tarmac to prepare for boarding his aircraft.

    Kill the Metallic Giant Dragon, and the rewards would be substantial!

    Before his words had even settled, several sharp, silver spears, shing at a blinding speed, shot forth and turned two MiG-28 jet fighters that had just arrived on the tarmac into porcupines.

    The ground crew by the nes stood dumbfounded for a moment and then, as one, their faces paled. They turned to escape, but a tremendous explosion and a burst of brilliant mes instantly swallowed them, along with all of the equipment on the entire tarmac.

    The ground power unit and refueling vehicle that failed to get away were torn to pieces.

    "Damn Metallic Giant Dragons, all of them are madmen!"

    The shockwave that swept in unexpectedly knocked Squadron Leader Chekhov to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of choking smoke and clumsily got up, suddenly remembering something important. He reached down to check himself and immediately broke into a sleazy, smug grin. He chuckled to himself and turned his head to call to his wingman, Basong, the pilot of the MiG-202.

    "Well, Basong, you will have to be my fire control operator again. Hmm, Basong?!"

    Fortunately, the "Dragon yer Missiles" mounted under the wings had not detonated in full, as their horrific destructive power could have sted a huge crater in the tarmac and damaged the nearby main takeoff andnding runway, with destructive effectsparable to a full strike from a 400mm caliber main ship''s cannon.

    Not only would Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov have been killed on the spot, but even the nearby hangar would not have been spared.

    The two MiG-28 jet fighters were reduced to ashes right before their eyes. However, Chekhov and Basong were also the flight crew for A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft number 211, with "Peanut Butter" Chekhov as the pilot and "Lemongrass" Basong as the fire control operator.

    Whether flying in formation or together on the same aircraft, the two always had a rapport akin to telepathy, irreceable by anyone else.

    But Basong could no longer respond.

    Hey motionless on the ground, barely discernable, with most of his head gone. Blood soaked his body, and a single lifeless eye resembling a dead fish stared nkly at the mes and thick smoke rising a hundred meters away.

    The poor soul hadn''t even boarded the MiG-28 jet fighter before the explosion of this "Big Baby" took off half of his head, chilling his body rapidly.

    Poor partner!

    Chekhov mmed his fist onto the ground in frustration.

    Three columns of thick smoke rose within the Aircrew Base, as three anti-air missiles, trailing mes, shot into the sky, gaining speed and howling toward the heavens.

    The dense anti-air artillery emcements and high-angle guns didn''t dare make a sound, fearing they''d be serving up easy targets. The anti-air missile sites immediately emptied theirunchers in the first response.

    The Metallic Dragons, having evolved into the Digital Dragon Race, now boasted a wider array of attack methods. Any slip could leave you defenseless; so once you engage, you must unleash full firepower without hesitation. You fight as fiercely as possible, pouring in all your effort¡ªperhaps then you might carve a path to survival.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 11: Section 11 - Come Out, My Fire Control Operator

    The horrific scene that unfolded before him made Squadron Leader Chekhov swear profusely.

    Just moments ago, a fire extinguisher canister had flown past his forehead, narrowly missing him as well.

    This was fate, whether it arrived early orte, choosing to work in this field required this awareness, with no other options avable.

    Two MiG-28s along with one pilot had perished before achieving any victory, but the battle was far from over. Fortunately, the second wave of A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, due to theirte arrival, had narrowly escaped destruction.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov had lost not only his MiG wingman but also the fire control operator of his turboprop.

    No one would again effeminately beg this Big Bear to smoke less and drink less, insisting on a regr lifestyle with folded hands.

    Even pilots couldn''t escape the fate of being mere tools¡ªthey needed to know how to fly jets and handle turboprops. Having multiple skills was essential; military contractors might let a jet fighter sit idle but wouldn''t allow pilots to waste away for long.

    After all, good pilots were built on flying hours and required consistent training to maintain their state; otherwise, spontaneous sorties might not perform much better than those rookies.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" was somewhat akin to an advanced trainer aircraft, perfectly suited for maintaining touch, and its cockpityout was nearly identical to that of the MiG-28, which also conformed to NATO standards.

    This was why the 911 Aircrew Base chose two licensed fake MiGs over the equally cheap real MiGs¡ªto avoid headaches with different standard specifications and data link integration, providing a cost-effective mix of capabilities.

    The Metallic Dragon that had breached the business area of the 911 Aircrew Base and fired the Dragon Spike from several kilometers away was not unchallenged; at least fourbat aircraft, from other aircrew bases, were engaged in a fierce battle with this crazed Dragon of ughter.

    Although the ready apron was aplete mess littered with wreckage of MiG-28s and ground personnel, mes scattered everywhere, and choking ck smoke billowing out, it didn''t stop the second squadron of five "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft from taking an unusual route directly through the grass, entering the runway near the apron.

    Even if the main 1500-meter-long runway was destroyed, the neatly trimmedwn beside it could also serve as a temporary emergencynding strip, as aircraft that used propellers for propulsion were not fussy about takeoff andnding environments.

    Momentster, 911 Aircrew Base''s A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft took off in formation, heading straight into the intensely contested airspace.

    The crisscrossing trajectories of the cannon''s tracer bullets and the massive fireballs from missile explosions instantly intensified the battle.

    "Eat my sword (Power and Glory)..."

    Just as the foolish bear Chekhov started shouting, he choked up. Before he could finish his gant speech, he found himself pulled down, left as just a bare-stick Major, which was absolutely absurd!

    The jet wingman and turboprop fire control operator had just been truly cracked open; their white brain matter was still spilling out, a sight they could not possibly rise from to fight side by side.

    On the takeoff portion of the runway, only a solitary "Big Mouth Monster" remained, nowhere to express its destion but through tears that flowed endlessly.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, being a two-seater model, one Light Chekhov wasn''t enough!

    Even though one person could operate the aircraft in battle, it ultimately could not match the efficiency of two people working together.

    On the battlefield, victory and life or death could be determined in a moment, dancing with the Grim Reaper by mere millimeters. Single-seaters had their advantages, and two-seaters had their strengths, but two hands couldn''tpete with four, as thetter had the advantage in capturing the best timing for attacks during high-speed maneuvers.

    Turboprop fighters, with their smaller turning radiuspared to jet fighters, were more agile in low-speed, low-altitude maneuvers, so even when facing the immense Dragon Race, known as the Masters of the Sky Dome, they were notpletely powerless.

    After five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft took off, a piercing air raid rm was immediately sounded across the entire 911 Aircrew Base.

    The intense aerial battle had already reached the high-lying aircrew base. Most of the ground support units hadpleted their tasks and began to retreat into safe shelters, to avoid further unnecessary casualties¡ªaspensation payments were significantly substantial.

    Upon seeing the new rookie still clutching the bulky technical manual, not knowing what to do, Chief Mechanic Xiao shouted at him, "Chen Fei, don''t just stand there dumbly; follow me to the air raid shelter."

    Bullets do not discriminate; a close pass can wound, and contact means death. In the eyes of the Giant Dragon, humans are no different from ants.

    Especially in the dictionary of the Metallic Dragons, there is no such thing as sympathy or mercy¡ªnothing could be more brutally cruel.

    Nobody could guarantee that the entire aircrew base would still existter; perhaps a casual roll by that Metallic Dragon could reduce all the buildings on the surface to ruins.

    If people are present, the base remains.

    If people are gone, so is the base.

    The loss of equipment and materials is merely a matter of money, and for those who can contract military bases, money is certainly not an issue; after all, 911 is just one of them.

    "I''ll be there right away!"

    Chen Fei didn''t have the heart to leave behind the technical manual he was holding, and eyed the various itemsbeled BCDEFG, looking for a cart to take them all away.

    At that moment, Squadron Leader Chekhov, also known as Big Bear, returned to the hangar, seemingly searching for something.

    Only a few individuals, likened to kittens, remained in the hangar, as most people had already evacuated,pletely disregarding the stuff they left behind.

    "Who''s still here?!!"

    He first roared, and in the next second, his gazended on Chen Fei, immediately stretching a big grin and striding fiercely, as heughed wildly and charged over.

    "Boy (thief), it''s you."

    "Chekhov, what are you doing?"

    Seeing this, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming was both shocked and angry, sensing malicious intent from this vic brute.

    "..."

    Poor little Chen Fei was utterly bewildered and caught off guard when the leader of the Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron grabbed him by the neck and dragged him away on the spot.

    The giant bear-like paw grasped him just right, almost as if lifting a small chick.

    "Put him down, Chekhov,e back here!"

    Xiao Ming, furious, chased after them.

    How could he just stand by and watch as his man was snatched away by this big bear, wondering how he''d lead his team in the future?

    Who knew how this nearly 300-pound Big Bear could run so fast, tossing little Chen Fei over his shoulder and disappearing in just a moment?

    Indeed, the fastest in the air are the air force, and the fastest on the ground is still the air force, the ancients truly didn''t lie to me.

    By the time Chief Mechanic Xiao caught up to the take-off stretch of the runway, the only remaining A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had already started its propeller, emitting a tremendous roaring sound, making it impossible for him to get any closer.

    When "kidnapped" Chen Fei finally came to his senses, he was terrified to find himself inexplicably stuffed into the cockpit, strapped to his seat with a seatbelt, and even wearing a helmet.

    Where am I?

    What am I supposed to do?

    Hey, hey, I need to get off, this isn''t the ne to kindergarten!

    The seemingly vile old pilot in the front seat just finished fastening the canopy, fished something out of his crotch, tossed it behind him, then turned his head andughed maniacally, saying, "Harasho, have a sip, Major Chekhov will take you to put on airs, and fly you high!"

    He casually threw a hand salute to Chief Mechanic Xiao, who was toote and chasing from outside, bidding him goodbye!

    Catching the bottle of Blue Star Erguotou, which reeked strongly of Russian essence and even more of bullshit, Chen Fei was at a loss. Could this be the legendary true "ne cup," or perhaps a urine bottle?

    Ah, this! This caliber... very suspicious!

    ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õChen Fei: Danger!~

    Damn it, this stinking big bear is no good!

    Can I curse?

    "Chekhov you bastard, you won''t die a good death, fuck your eighteen..."

    On the ground, Xiao Ming hopped and skipped, his voice soon drowned out by the roar of the "Big Mouth Monster," as Chekhov, who started to elerate the "Big Mouth Monster," let out a ghostly howl-like crazyugh.

    -

 Chapter 12: Section 12 - The Soul Triplet

    Despite the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft''s primary roles in reconnaissance, patrol, and ground fire support, and its more than adequate ability to bully unguarded ground targets, it''s not considered an air superiority model. However, asionally ying the role of ''hit-and-run'' aerial support still falls within its capabilities¡ªit always has some fight in it.

    Carrying Chekhov and Chen Fei, the "Big Mouth Monster" dashed over three hundred meters on the runway. The nose of the ne suddenly lifted, thending gear detached from the ground, and the aircraft swiftly soared into the sky, sessfullypleting the take-off procedure.

    "Listen, the two of us are now grasshoppers tied to the same string. Whether we can survive now entirely depends on you. Keep an eye on the instruments and buttons in front of you, and start getting familiar with them."

    After ascending, the unreliable Big Bear Squadron Leader finally started to take things seriously.

    After all, being high up in the air, the higher you fly, the harder you crash.

    "Ah?"

    Chen Fei never even imagined he would be a co-pilot one day.

    What to do if caught driving without a license? Online waiting, urgent!

    Traffic Police Comrade: You firste down!

    But right now, with the aircraft in midair, he couldn''te down!

    Chen Fei was almost inclined to wish for death.

    He quickly threw the liquor bottle under his feet and stepped on it hard. This thing even involved drunk driving!

    He could already smell the disgusting stench of alcohol in the cockpit. Had this bear not brushed his teeth for hundreds of years?

    "First, try themunication channels. The control tower will assist you, so recall what you saw in the technical manual."

    Despite Commander Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov of Aircrew Base Combat Flight Squadron appearing to randomly recruit a strapping fellow, it wasn''t a haphazard selection.

    When he saw Chen Fei, the rookie was holding a technical manual for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft. Although it was only Book A, with Book B, C, D, E, F, and G still remaining, Book A was the general outline¡ªcovering all moduleponents, including a basic introduction to the functions on the dashboard.

    Even if it wasn''t an operational flight manual, one could at least understand what was going on, more than enough for a Fire Control Operator''s guidance.

    Communication channels?

    Having been shanghaied onto this thieving aircraft, Chen Fei had no choice but to fiddle with the controls on the dashboard, making a sad face.

    Luckily, the technical manual (A) for the light attack aircraft was still tightly gripped in his hand, so there was still time to flip through the pages if needed.

    He tried toggling themunication switches a few times.

    "Roar!~Half-baked Finish, Minotaur! Roar! Eunuch! Roar! Docile face to face, looking like a ghost,ining Dragon Lord is too tough, all go to die, die! Roar roar roar..."

    The sudden roar startled Chen Fei, making him hastily adjust the frequency.

    "What the hell is that noise! Scared the life out of me!"

    It wasn''t only Chen Fei who heard the sudden roar; Chekhov in the front seat also had the hairs on his back stand up in unison.

    Just hearing those couple of sentences, they felt this was loaded with an awfully huge amount of information.

    "It''s not me, I don''t know. That was the publicmunication channel just now."

    Chen Fei quickly toggled the switches a few more times, and another voice came through his earpiece.

    "Sss... Calling 211, calling 211, this is 911 control tower, please respond if you receive this."

    "211 received. I am ''Peanut Butter,'' ascending, speed 330 kilometers per hour, estimated to enter thebat airspace in 5 minutes."

    Chekhov kept pulling on the control stick, opening the throttle to maximum, causing the "Big Mouth Monster" to maintain a steep angle of ascent. He wasn''t in a rush to barge into the fiercely contested battlefield right away.

    For aircraft within the atmosphere, altitude is the best booster.

    With a sufficient altitude advantage, a propeller-driven fighter would even dare to take on a jet fighter.

    "IFF friend-foe identification verified, battlefield data link connected, initiating temporary key, please maintain smoothmunications."

    The control tower staff had already retreated to the second backupmand post in the underground bomb shelter, leaving the groundpletely deserted.

    Dragon Spikes raining down from the sky were everywhere, and even taking shelter inside armored vehicles wasn''t necessarily safe.

    The pration ability of Dragon Spikes shed from Metallic Dragons wasparable to armor-piercing shells, especially effective against metal materials, with a strong erosion effect. Even the thickest armor steel was no different from paper mache, whereas the defensive effect of non-metallicposite materials was not discounted.

    "''Peanut Butter'' received. ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, pay attention, stay close to me. Prepare for dual aircraft formation dive-bombing. ''Devil Pepper,'' are you still alive? I haven''t seen you."

    The suddenly serious Big Bear was a far cry from his behavior on the ground.

    "''Devil Pepper'' is still here, I see you, ''Peanut Butter.'' ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron is all here, beginning to assemble."

    The deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, the short-haired girl Irinei Rusios, spoke up in themunication channel with a calm and collected voice.

    Her flight call sign "Devil Pepper" really matched the temperament of a feisty South American chili.

    Before Chekhov''s 211 turboprop aircraft took off, the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron made a probing attack and then began to y to their strengths by adopting hit-and-run tactics. They struck once and left immediately, whether they hit the target or not, refusing to engage in a prolonged fight.

    "Hey! Rook behind me, give yourself a call sign. How about ''Rookie''? It really suits you!"

    "Peanut Butter" Chekhov turned his attention back to his rear once again.

    "No, no, no, I don''t want that!"

    What the heck is ''Rookie''? Chen Fei shook his head as if it were a rattle-drum. He was an apprentice in the repair team, a hard-working tool person. Why would he need a call sign?

    Not "Peanut Butter," then it''s "Devil Pepper," and even "Genuine Fragrance"?

    What, are they nning to cook?

    Why not stew this Big Bear first?

    That''s the true essence of "Genuine Fragrance."

    Chen Fei couldn''t understand these pilots'' twisted sense of humor at all.

    "Every pilot needs to have their own flight call sign. It''s a tradition, like me¡ªmy call sign is ''Peanut Butter.'' My father is also a pilot; his call sign is ''Caviar,'' and my grandpa, he flew La-9s and his call sign was ''Ketchup.'' The Ivanov family has a long lineage of pilots; our veins flow with aviation kerosene, hurrah!"

    Great, three generations of sauces passed down in the family!

    While meeting up with other A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, Chekhov took the opportunity to exin all this to Chen Fei.

    "I just started learning to fix aircraft, I''m not a pilot."

    Little Chen Fei was almost crying. He was pushed into this situation like a duck being forced onto a perch, inexplicably stuffed into the cabin.

    He really wanted to use the thick and heavy technical manual in his hand to p this unreasonable Big Bear to death.

    "So where are you? What do you want to do?" Suddenly, Chekhov raised his hands high, then shouted loudly, "Tell me, who are you?" These were almost soul-piercing triple questions.

    At this moment, nobody was holding the control stick!

    The "Big Mouth Monster" continued to climb upwards on its momentum for a while, before beginning to turn aimlessly and drift downwards.

    "Are you insane?"

    Seeing the Big Bear in the front seat ying double hands-free at this critical moment, Chen Fei was beside himself with anger. Now was not the time for jokes.

    A fighter jet is not a bicycle; without autopilot, letting go is like shaking hands with the Grim Reaper.

    "Tell me, who are you?"

    Chekhov was relentless, letting the Combat Aircraft he shared with Chen Fei begin to fall freely.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' what are you guys doing?"

    The second backupmand center, located inside the underground air defense facility, not only heard the conversation between the two but also captured the irregr maneuver of aircraft number 211, the "Big Mouth Monster," on radar.

    "Squadron Leader, stop fooling around!"

    "Devil Pepper" girl Iline Rusios flew her aircraft closer and noticed the anomaly of 211 as well. This was definitely not a proper dive attack maneuver.

    "Grab the control stick, we''re going to crash! We''re crashing! We''re crashing!"

    Chekhov waved his hands, jumping up and down in the front seat performing the Big Bear dance, causing the 200-plus-pound aircraft to shake even more violently.

    "Are you out of your mind? Aaaaah, pull it up, pull it up aaaaah..."

    Chen Fei could no longer hold back. Tucking the technical manual under his arm, he grabbed the control stick and pulled it back with all his might.

    Where the "Big Mouth Monster" would fly to next, the ground, the sky, or level out¡ªwho knew!

    Finally, with human intervention, the turboprop aircraft dove at an angle for a distance before gradually leveling off. The shaking frame once again stabilized and began to climb.

    An aircraft with a statically stable design like this was actually not difficult to control. Only when the speed dropped below 130 kilometers per hour would there be a risk of stalling. Even so, given the speed at which it dove spinning, hitting the ground would only be a matter of mere seconds, but there was still enough time to recover.

    "Hurrah!~~"

    Chekhov cheered, saying, "Look! Look! I knew it, you''re a qualified pilot. Tell me, who are you?"

    Who am I, where am I, and what do I want to do?

    The standard triple question of the soul. This Big Bear wasn''t stupid at all, just a bit too drunk.

    -

 Chapter 13: Section 13 - Fierce

    Chen Fei really wanted to smash that crazy Big Bear into a half-paralyzed state with his own technical manual.

    But then he thought that if he ended up seriously injuring the opposite party, figuring out who would fly this aircraft next would be a big problem.

    Moreover, he was deep in debt and had no choice but to sign an indenture contract. He couldn''t afford topensate even for the aircraft''s wheel, let alone the whole ne.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' what are you guys up to? Wait, where''s ''Lemongrass''? Who''s that behind you?"

    A "Big Mouth Monster" drew close, taking its position as the wingman on the left side and maintained a formation flying stance. The short-haired girl in the front seat and the pilot in the back seat were both staring dumbfounded at the recently stabilized aircraft number 211, something clearly off behind the cockpit canopy.

    The person in the back seat of 211 seemed to have changed. It wasn''t the talkative Lemongrass Basong.

    "Currently at an altitude of 7500 meters, the weather is clear, I am Squadron Leader ''Peanut Butter.'' Now, I have good news and bad news. First the bad news, my partner ''Lemongrass'' has died. The good news is, I''ve found a new fire control operator. Ladies and gentlemen, please wee your new teammate, codename ''Rookie''. Let''s give a round of apuse!"

    This Major Squadron Leader, the Big Bear, started pping inside the cockpit all by himself, shameless to the core.

    How shamelessly disgusting!

    "Fine, you''re the boss, whatever you say is right. Wee, Rookie," said the short-haired girl "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, helplessly.

    The Squadron Leader Major Chekhov might be entric, but she couldn''t be; otherwise, the whole "Genuine Fragrance" squadron would indeed be inplete disarray.

    Clearly, Chen Fei, the neer, was a genuine, no-doubt about it, Rookie; the nickname suited him well.

    "I''m ''Nutmeg'' Sman Francis, wee."

    The fire control operator, "Devil Pepper''s" "Nutmeg," quickly followed up. It wasn''t the right moment to contradict the squadron leader.

    "Rookie... Okay! Wee aboard, poor Basong."

    "I''m ''Fragrant Orchid'' Carlos Silva Lane, and this is my partner ''Oyster Sauce'' Dtu. Rookie, good luck."

    "We''ve been waiting for you for a long time, Rookie. I''m ''Braised Sauce'' Jack Brown, and I love braised pork. Braised pork is not a person''s name; it''s the name of a dish."

    ...

    The members of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron all weed the newly joined little brother enthusiastically.

    Suddenly hearing that these pilots'' code names included not just Peanut Butter but also Devil Pepper, Nutmeg, Oyster Sauce, Dragon Artemisia, Miso, and Braised Sauce, among other seasonings, a Rookie unexpectedly popped up.

    Upon deeper thought, Chen Fei was terrified and suddenly panicked, thinking, you guys are definitely just waiting to stew this newbie, aren''t you?

    Life_without_lovinging.GIF

    "Chekhov, when youe back, I''m going to strip you of yourmand!!!"

    The angry roar of Morris Morgan, the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, echoed through themunication channel.

    When the underground air-defense facility''s second backupmand center received the messy noise and flight data from aircraft 211, everyone looked at each other in dismay.

    They were in the midst of battle, not the time for jokes. Dragging a newbie who hadn''t even been there for 24 hours to temporarily act as a fire control operator and still being so reckless, even if you don''t take your own life seriously, you should at least consider others, right?

    "Hahaha, Morris, then you''ll have to wait for me toe back alive. ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, target the Metallic Dragons, two-aircraft teams follow the number, three-stage attack, begin!"

    Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov,pletely unconcerned, turned his head and patted the back of his seat with his left hand, saying, "Rookie, now use your onboardputer to start programming. Activate two Short-range Combat Missiles and a ''Dragon yer Missile''. Don''t just focus on one side, pay attention to symmetry on both wings, then follow mymands!"

    Chen Fei stepped on an Erguotou liquor bottle, tucked the technical manual under the safety belt, and, frowning, dared not let go of the control stick as he relied solely on his memory to switch on the missile activation.

    Hepletely failed to notice that the control of the "Big Mouth Monster" had been taken back by Big Bear once again; he thought he was in control, just like ying aputer game where theputer and mouse have the same authority.

    "212 in position, 11 kilometers from the target, altitude 2000 meters, attack tomence in one minute."

    When it was time to execute thebat n, the short-haired girl "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios quickly got her emotions in check; after all, the mission at hand was the most important thing.

    "213 in position!"

    The lead pilot of the second squadron was Carlos Silva Lane, codenamed "Fragrant Orchid," and hispatriot was the chief chef in the canteen who could cook high-end dishes.

    "214 in position!"

    "215 in position!"

    "216 in position!"

    "Radar group has locked on the target, data link checkplete."

    The six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft formed into three two-aircraft teams, spaced about 1000 meters apart from each other, began to dive toward the intense dogfight zone.

    "Everyone, watch out, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron is about to make a big move. ''Rookie,'' first send a Combat Bomb to greet that big guy, fox1, watch for evasion!"

    Big Bear barked through the inte and pushed the control stick forward.

    A gargantuan figure appeared within the HUD''s crosshairs, its mboyantly sharp wings pping continuously, with dazzling mes flickering between the edges. asionally, streaks of wingtip vortices seemed to cut through the clouds, as if riding the winds.

    With every beat of the de Wings, sporadically, one or several Dragon Spikes, whose range rivaled that of heavy artillery, were fired, posing a lethal threat to the fighter jets. Once hit, there was no escape, not even an ejection could be hoped for.

    "''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, be careful, this creature has already taken down five of our brothers!"

    "This time, we must kill it!"

    "I am ''Coyote'' from Aircrew Base 909, with one ''Dragon yer Missile'' left if you need it."

    The encrypted publicmunication channel based on the unified standard data link immediately received calls from several other fighter jets.

    Thus far, the pilots had only managed to hold back the frenzied Metallic Dragon, waiting for the arrival of other reinforcements, as their own ammunition was already running low.

    "Roar!~"

    Suddenly, a dazzling green light beam, unmatchably piercing, shot out from the forehead of the dragon''s head, cutting straight through the sky.

    An aircraft, unlike the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" with its propeller design, inadvertently crossed the beam''s path, instantly losing arge chunk of its wingtip. Tiny fragments scattered, bursting into mes and smoke.

    With its aerodynamic bncepromised, the propeller aircraft gradually spiraled out of control. Despite the pilot''s best efforts to steer, it careened towards the ground, possibly considering an ejection.

    However, the Metallic Dragon did not intend to let it go. Behind its de Wings, a burst of light red, and its speed surged dramatically, catching up in the blink of an eye. It opened its fanged mouth wide, snapping shut¡­ Countless fragments scattered towards the ground.

    Utterly savage!

    "Trash, trash, all trash! Die, all of you die!"

    The dragon''s furious roar shook the area for miles, and was clearly audible even through the cockpit canopy. Nowadays, aircraft are mostly made from non-metallicposite materials, and the Metal-eating Metallic Dragon certainly wasn''t pleased, it was like biting into a meat pie filled with gravel¡ªhard to swallow.

    The most perfect biologicalbat weapon in the world, truly a Dragon of ughter.

    Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov silently admired it from the depths of his heart. Despite being an enemy target, admiration was admiration, but he would certainly not show mercy.

    The several fighter jets engaging the Metallic Dragon spread out, with NATO''s code "fox" standing by tounch missiles. "Fox1" signaled the guided mode of a programmable Combat Missile, adjusted for airborne radar guidance and data link assistance.

    The dragon''s radar signal feedback was exceptionally strong, like a Heavenly Light Column piercing the night, but that alone did not mean the other fighter jets had no radar feedback, and friendly fire was still a fear, even with foe/friend signal recognition.

    "Beep!"

    The airborne radar locked on the target, the aircraft slightly shuddered, and a white missile detached from its left-wing mount, dropping three to four meters before its tail fiercely ignited a me, roaring out with thick white smoke.

    The Metallic Dragon, having just shredded a propeller aircraft, looked up just in time to face the sudden missile, which struck it squarely.

    Two missiles, one after the other, Double-Blows!

    In the next second, two more missiles whooshed from behind Aircraft 211, plunging into the depths of the just-exploded fire cloud.

    Four-Hit-Combos!

    Then came two more!

    The fireball swelled intensely, eventuallypletely engulfing the massive dragon''s body.

    A crazed Six-Hit-Combos!

    The moment the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron appeared, they executed a perfect three-stage attack technique.

    Such intense focus fire was not even necessary for tank battles, but the squadron''s six "Big Mouth Monsters" treated the Metallic Dragon as though it were a Battleship, and a supersonic one at that, capable of flight.

    Of all the things that flew in the sky, apart from meteors, there was nothing as tough as those dragons; their existence was simply unscientific.

    "''Dragon yer Missile'' ready, hold steady, everyone else disengage!"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov shouted loudly.

    In offensive operations, there was seldom a second chance.

    The aircraft, fragile and tender, could hardly withstand damage. In closebat, oues of life and death were often decided within a few moments.

    "''Dragon yer Missile,''unch!"

    Chen Fei heard the voice of a girl with short hair beside him; she couldn''t wait to fire as a courtesy.

    A missile trailing light blue smoke burst out like lightning.

    The ground-based radar''s guidance signal firmly locked onto the distant Metallic Dragon.

    No escape!

    y-The-Dragon!

    -

 Chapter 14: Section 14 - Dancing with the Dragon of Slaughter (Where is Dragon Grandpas ticket?)

    Upon hearing the words of wingman pilot "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, Chen Fei almost pressed theunch button to send off the ready-tounch KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile.

    "Roar!~"

    The fire cloud, not yet fully dissipated, was abruptly torn apart, and the ferocious beast reappeared in everyone''s view. With huge de wings casting out waves of phantoms and a massive vortex forming behind it, the Metallic Dragon, covered in dust and with its de thorns askew from six missile sts, turned and elerated unexpectedly and agilely.

    The intense gas jetting out between the de wings was visible to the naked eye, like an invisible, nearly transparent wing added to the dragon''s wings.

    More than ten spikes detached from the dragon''s body, heading towards the iing "Dragon yer Missile."

    Standing in the wind, even pigs could fly, let alone the Metallic Dragon, which was like a flying battleship, and a fast one at that.

    On the Metallic Dragon, there was no trace of aerodynamics or fluid dynamics, making this creature a tant defiance of scientific principles.

    Close-quarters bay fighting was always extremely dangerous, Major Chekhov in the front seat of Aircraft 211 roared with all his might, "Too close, everyone evade, brace for impact!"

    Throttle pushed to maximum output, all-out disengagement...

    The view outside the cockpit suddenly changed, a true whirlwind that dizzied the senses.

    If evasion was not an option, then they would have to brace for impact and leave their fates to God.

    Boom!~

    The aircraft trembled violently, with rumbling sounds echoing in his ears, apanied by various squeaking and groaning noises. Chen Fei did not doubt that this turboprop aircraft could disintegrate in midair the very next second.

    He even saw a blue shockwave sweeping over the fusge at lightning speed, scattering the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s three-formation tactics in the blink of an eye.

    Within the killing radius of the "Dragon yer Missile," everything vanished into ash, its destructive powerparable to a nuclear strike, yet it left no nuclear radiation residue or long-term environmental impact.

    Chen Fei, the kid, felt like vomiting...

    I want to go home!

    "My baby, steady, hold steady, hold steady! Ahhhhh!!!"

    Major Chekhov, however, was oblivious, gripping the control stick and muttering nonstop like a madman, struggling to adapt to the turbulence enveloping the aircraft and trying to regain bnce.

    It was foreseeable that after such severe turbulence, the lifespan of this turboprop aircraft was significantly reduced, even sustaining internal structural damage.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' bearing 49, altitude 4500 meters."

    Fortunately, themunication equipment was unaffected, and the voice of "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane, the pilot of the lead aircraft in the second squadron, Aircraft 213, urgently echoed in the ears of the two persons inside Aircraft 211; he was almost gasping as he spoke these words.

    "What?"

    Chen Fei looked up, only then noticing that, unbeknownst to him, a vast shadow had rapidly enveloped them.

    The sharp giant de wings were tattered, but visible to the naked eye, they swiftly regenerated. Rows of sharp des neatly realigned themselves while part of the dragon''s tail vanished into thin air. It was indeed a testament to the "Dragon yer Missile," capable of inflicting severe damage on the giant dragon so suddenly.

    The terrifying creature fixed its murderous and crazed gaze fiercely on the cockpit, its killing intent tangible, causing his heart involuntarily to skip and chilling him to the bone.

    Images of a turbopropbat ne being ripped to shreds shed through his mind like lightning.

    Doomed!

    "Rookie, brace yourself¡ªwe''re diving."

    Chekhov, no longer concerned about the condition of his aircraft, pushed the throttle to the max and mmed the joystick all the way, doing his best to dodge the Metallic Dragon''s strike.

    The PT6A engine of "Big Mouth Monster" number 211 achieved peak output, the aircraft spiraled and dove continuously while releasing all its infrared heat re jamming missiles without reservation, filling the sky with countless dazzling red dots like celestial maidens scattering flowers.

    Big Bear roared incoherently as he pulled every trick out of the bag to maneuver the light turboprop attack aircraft, dancing on the line between life and death...a series of narrow escapes ensued.

    A mature and stable engine can often gracefully handle all sorts of emergencies. The significance of iterations is in refining details, not discarding past sesses¡ªan enduring series isn''t surprising even if itsts for centuries.

    The roar of the turboprop engine was in no way inferior to the dragon''s furious bellow.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" fully utilized its low-altitude maneuverability advantages as a light turboprop attack aircraft, eluding the enraged and desperate lunges of the evil dragon by nimbly maneuvering left, right, up, down, and rolling¡ªusing the cover of close-to-ground terrain to narrowly avoid deadly de Thorns and a fate of utter destruction, again and again.

    "Fox1!"

    "Fox1!"

    The two other squadrons daringly moved closer tounch generic programmable closebat missiles attacking the Metallic Dragon, buying Major Chekhov and rookie Chen Fei precious time to escape.

    Then followed a barrage of bombing, crisscrossing trajectories with the sky aze as if about to ignite.

    But! No! Use!

    The thick-skinned "Supersonic Battleship" was hardly vulnerable to merebat bombs; at most, they''d get a bit dirty. Only the so-called "Dragon yer Missile," the KDK-1 aspirated high supersonic smart missile, truly threatened the Metallic Dragon.

    Major Chekhov''s wingman pilot, the short-haired Iline, anxiously said, "Keep using the ''Dragon yer Missile''!"

    "Big Mouth Monster" could only carry one "Dragon yer Missile." Onceunched, it could only provide support.

    The Metallic Dragon was cunning enough to flee the lethal radius of the "Dragon yer Missile" despite its injuries, otherwise, no matter what, thatst hit could have severely damaged it, or even killed it outright.

    The theoretical lethal power of the KDK-1 aspirated high supersonic smart missile was sufficient to deal fatal injuries to any giant dragon, even a Metallic Dragon, but this optimal effect was contingent on a direct hit. If the target was aware and escaped in time, the effectiveness would be greatly reduced, the greater the distance, the weaker the lethal effect.

    "Roar!~"

    The Metallic Dragon burst out of the smoky haze, roared loudly, and furiously swiped its de wings,unching a barrage of de Thorns.

    "Watch out for Dragon Spikes!"

    When the Giant Dragon stretched its de Wings to the maximum, making them burst out like a hedgehog''s spikes, Irinei Rusios had a bad feeling.

    Her premonition was right. The next second, Dragon Spikes with immense kic energy flew chaotically across the sky, covering the entire airspace where the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron was located, with absolutely no dead angles.

    The sky looked like it was raining Dragon Spikes, and it was already toote to escape safely. Even attempting evasive maneuvers was just a matter of luck.

    "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Aircraft 215 out of control, Aircraft 215 out of control, we''re ejecting!"

    "Ahhhh! I''m injured!"

    "''Dragon Artemisia'' reporting, ''Braised Sauce'' is injured, thigh prated by a Dragon Spike, unable to eject, AFT linked ejection mode failed, Aircraft 214 withdrawing frombat!"

    An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft, with a Dragon Spike stuck in its cockpit, decisively streaked toward the distant horizon, made a half-circle, and then turned towards Aircrew Base 911.

    "This is 911, start preparing the Maic Catcher, it will be preheated in one minute, hang in there, brother!"

    Another aircraft, numbered "215," with severalrge holes in its body and trailing increasingly thick ck smoke, tilted towards the ground, its cockpit cover suddenly flew off, and the front and rear pilot seats were ejected, opening their parachutes as they drifted in the wind.

    Aircraft 215 exploded mid-air before it could crash to the ground, just over a hundred meters above the surface. Numerous pieces, mes, and smoke spread across a wide area, missing the Maic Catchers positioned near the main runway.

    Thankfully, the timely ejection of parachutes averted a fatal crash.

    The fire control operator was pierced in the thigh by a Dragon Spike. The pilot "Dragon Artemisia" had no choice but to withdraw frombat early, and as Aircraft 214 approached Aircrew Base 911 on its return journey, the ne unexpectedly snapped in half right at the cockpit.

    That incident actually provided an opportunity for ejection, allowing both pilots to exit the cockpit.

    The parachutes of both opened one after the other, but the fire control operator still had the Dragon Spike embedded in his thigh. By the time he was found by a nearby colleague, his face was already deadly pale and he had lost consciousness.

    Two Z-9 armed helicopters ventured close to thebat airspace to begin the retrieval (and scavenging) operation.

    Rescue pairings make the job less tiring¡ªalive you pick people up, dead you collect bodies, shattered remains are still collected.

    The Maic Catcher prepared to assist the turboprop in emergencynding had its pre-heating halted. The device really consumed too much electricity, and even the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, which could power the entire Aircrew Base, was not enough to sustain this power-hungry tiger for long.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' we''ve lost 214 and 215."

    "Devil Pepper," still with her heart pounding, nced around and noticed out of six "Big Mouth Monsters," only four remained, circling the fiercely intensebat zone hesitantly, not daring to close in again.

    If it happened again, she feared her luck might run out.

    "No worries, we still have Dragon yer Missiles. Rookie, are you still alive?"

    Major Chekhov showed no sign of backing down; he even took a moment to check on the young man in the back seat.

    Surprisingly, the rookie was still conscious and hadn''t fainted during the continuous tactical maneuvers.

    "I, I''m okay!"

    Adrenaline pumping, he had even forgotten to be scared. When he said this, Chen Fei didn''t know his face was devoid of all color, frighteningly pale, his upper and lower teeth chattering intensely.

    Is this thing really freaking awesome???

    Give me a break!

    You scared me to death!!!

    "Brothers, it''s time to go all out!"

    "Genuine Fragrance" squadron leader, flying call-sign "Peanut Butter," Major Chekhov''s tone became serious, no longer carefree as before, as if he had sobered up somewhat.

    After being entangled by multiple fighter jets up till now, having had its fill of Close Combat Missiles and just having experienced a massive burst of Dragon Spike rain, the Metallic Giant Dragon was inevitably severely drained. One could see its reformed de Wings were considerably smaller than before.

    Even without using the Dragon yer Missiles, it wouldn''t be long before they could grind down this mad Dragon of ughter the hard way.

    ???

    ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õChen Fei was taken aback.

    Suddenly, shock!

    Hey, hey, hey! I''m innocent!

    I''m notbat personnel!

    Enough already, you stinking Big Bear!

    Do you fancy dying in some unique way?

    Throughout history, only fools live in loneliness, only those who court death leave their names behind.

    "Little Chili, cover us. Rookie, Emperor''s Holy Sword, follow me with the sword chariot, Ura!~"

    Ignoring the protests from Chen Fei in the back seat, Major Chekhov took a deep breath, howled loudly, pushed the throttle lever, and with more fuel fed to the turboprop engine, it instantly generated greater power. With many new scratches and dents on its body, the nearly wrecked "Big Mouth Monster" charged again toward the ferocious Metallic Giant Dragon.

    Some tasks must be done by someone, even if it means being a hero for just a few seconds.

    If it''s a one-way journey, so be it!

    Now, while it''s weakened, was the best time to take its life. If they let it recover, it would only be more difficult to handle, as Metallic Dragons are notoriously petty and vindictive.

    -

 Chapter 15: Section 15 - Inescapable

    "Major, good luck to you, everyone else, follow me!"

    The wingman pilot "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sniffed, gently pushed the control stick to converge with the other two "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft, forming a new three-ne formation.

    During the wide turn maneuver, she fired short bursts from the autocannon, and without hesitationunchedbat bombs whenever the opportunity arose, employing all her tactics to provide fire cover for Unit 211, and trying her best to attract the Metallic Dragon''s attention.

    For Irinei Rusios, the nickname "Little Chili" was very personal, reserved only for those who were extremely close to her. Anyone else who wasn''t that close would, as a matter of course, be met with a beating¡ªa real spicy reaction from this "Chili" from the Amazon Rainforest region!

    But this time, when Big Bear called her that so recklessly, she couldn''t get angry at all.

    Only true warriors can face life and death so directly.

    At that moment, an alert suddenly came from the Aircrew Base 911.

    "This is Tower 911, unidentified aircraft spotted at bearing 360, altitude 12,000 meters, speed Mach 5, attempting to identify."

    All aircraft received the message, whether or not they were turboprop aircraft from 911.

    At this critical moment, with the identity of the neer unclear, many hearts involuntarily leapt into their throats.

    "A bunch of damn flies, are you in such a hurry to seek death?"

    The roar of the Metallic Dragon echoed not only in the sky but also filled the publicmunication channels.

    "Bit, do you realize what you are doing? Surrender now."

    Another unfamiliar voice appeared on the publicmunication channel.

    "Who?"

    The Metallic Dragon''s figure hesitated, looking toward the North.

    "Flight Identification Code DD9D-2x54-0086-8ed1-12d6, searching for identification, Sky Knight Lin Ziyong, ss A ess to the data link, verifying passkey, approved!"

    The stranger from afar in the supersonic aircraft announced proactively.

    "The sky of this world is protected by the Lin Family!"

    The next second, both the encrypted data link''s public talk channel and the openmunication channels erupted like a pot boiling over.

    "Lin? A Lin surname? WHOOOOPS! Is that really a Sky Knight from the Lin Family?"

    "Thank goodness, we''re saved, we''re saved!"

    "Is that a Crystal Jeting? That Dragon of ughter is done for!"

    "We must get to know such an important figure, quick, get ready!"

    "Please get me an autograph from Lin Ziyong, his title is ''Death Tracer'', my son is a huge fan, this is such a coincidence."

    "I want one too!"

    "Same here!"

    ...

    The data linkmunication channel was in chaos, even the fighter pilots who were still engaged in battle with the Metallic Dragon didn''t forget to join in on the excitement.

    The Lin Family?

    What other Lin Family could cause such a huge sensation but the one that protects the skies, a vow that remains evesting!

    ording to the "Thucydides Trap", if not for the Lin Family mediating and restraining both sides, the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm might still slide into the dangers of an interdimensional war even after jointly eliminating the threat of the Third Era Civilization Neanderthals.

    Where there are people, there are "Jianghu", where there is "Jianghu" there are conflicts of interest, and where there are interests there are struggles, which can escte. Wars have only two frequencies; zero or countless, and the monsters of war that taste blood will always consider humans their prey.

    In fact, it''s not hard to understand. The previous Columbus almost made it impossible for North American Indigenous Indians to even maintain reservations, while the South American Mayans became mere legend.

    This time, two Columbuses discovered each other''s new continents at the same time, and what followed wasn''t a handshake, a hug, a kiss, a toast, and bing best buddies, but rather... quick, draw swords and start shing, my man!

    Only after gauging each other''s strengths will both sides sit down and get serious. This applies to people, to countries, to nations, and to civilizations; if you can''t be harmed, why not take advantage and bully the weak as much as you can?

    But now, the Dimensional Gate that connected the two realms was intricately linked to the Lin Family; the military couldn''t even get through, so what fight could there be?

    For that Metallic Dragon that suddenly left the Cangqiong Realm side of the Dimensional Gate and intruded into the Blue Star Realm on its own, the Lin Family had actually dispatched their own Sky Knight, meaning this round was stable!

    "It''s a Sky Knight, and it''s one of the Lin Family, ''Peanut Butter'',e back quickly!"

    The short-haired girl, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who was currently organizing the harassment, was both shocked and delighted.

    A pilot is a pilot, but a Sky Knight is a Sky Knight,pletely different levels of existence; the former carries out various flight missions, while thetter exists purely for war and offense.

    However, the world''s Sky Knights were divided into two types: Lin Family Sky Knights and other knights. The former had a lofty reputation, not faltering even in solobat with a Giant Dragon.

    When the sky falls, there''s a tall one to catch it, and now the tall one had finallye. With a Lin Family Sky Knight taking action, Squadron Leader Chekhov no longer had to risk his life dangerously.

    "Damn it!"

    ```

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, who was ready to sacrifice himself as bait tounch the "Dragon yer Missile" at close range, cursed angrily.

    "I''ve geared myself up already," and to not go through with it, that''s really fucking @#£¤%&...

    "Saved!"

    Chen Fei couldn''t care less about being a hero; he only knew he hadn''t paid off his debts yet, only thinking about earning an extra day''s worth for every day he can, every little bit counts¡ªhe literally couldn''t afford to die.

    But the next second, he noticed that the Metallic Dragon in his field of vision suddenly seemed much bigger.

    Oh crap, not bigger, just closer!

    The regenerated de Wing was raised high toward the turboprop aircraft he was in, evidently ready toe crashing down.

    "Dragon Lord doesn''t take shit from anyone,e and kill me if you can!"

    The roar of the Metallic Dragon was filled with defiance and rebelliousness, ready to effortlessly swat the approaching little fly and dere its resolution.

    What can the Sky Knights of the Lin Family do?

    Even if a Dragon Knight of the Lin Family came, still no respect!

    What goes aroundes around, the rebellious Metallic Dragon that once gave the Dragon Kings of all types a headache now finally had its own kind''s Dragon King feeling overwhelmed.

    The Wind Type Dragon n sent congrattions, the Terrestrial Dragon n sent congrattions, the Water System Dragon n sent congrattions, the Fire Dragon n sent congrattions... Dragons of all systems throwing flowers! Thumbs up!

    Finally managed to pass the buck.

    If the Metallic Dragons were really that easy to control, the past Dragon Kings wouldn''t have had to strictly confine them, leading to their kind bing the least populous among the dragons, losing their own heritage, and nearly bing extinct.

    "Rookie,unch the missiles, fire everything but don''t..."

    Squadron Leader Chekhov wasn''t keen on dying either; he gripped the control stick tightly, holding down the trigger for the autocannon, as vivid tracer paths streaked out, enveloping the encroaching Metallic Dragon.

    The cockpit buzzed incessantly, Chen Fei frantically pressed away with his BiuBiuBiu, the A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" shuddered involuntarily a few times, blissfully releasing its load before suddenly bing utterly dull.

    Emptying the ammo to lighten the load, which theoretically could indeed boost maneuverability.

    "...don''tunch the, wait, ''Dragon yer Missile''?"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov noticed one faint trail amidst the many missile contrails, moving at a shocking speed, like lightning that strikes before the thunder ps. He nced at the ammunition interface¡ªevery hardpoint was empty.

    He was just about to remind the rookie not to recklesslyunch the "Dragon yer Missile."

    "Launched it! You said to fire everything!"

    Chen Fei''s fingers hadn''t even left the control panel, his face full of innocence; programming firing sequences was pretty fun.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov yelled in frustration, "Ah, you idiot, we haven''t even gotten clear..."

    Who would set up such a crazy firing scheme!

    This "rookie" was truly a rookie!

    Before he could finish, a pale blue shockwave swept past in an instant.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" was still within the inescapable zone of the "Dragon yer Missile," now they were really in trouble!

    Like a powerless boat in a raging storm, the cockpit began to shake violently, the amplitude of which far exceeded the previous one caused by the aftermath of the "Dragon yer Missile." The cockpit canopy visibly twisted and was instantly riddled with cracks.

    The external wings disintegrated without any resistance, reduced to short stumps of wing root, the tail fin also vanished, leaving the bare fusge looking like an airne stick.

    "Eject! Quick!~"

    Chen Fei vaguely heard Squadron Leader Chekhov''s hoarse shouting, instinctively reaching between his legs, and then pulled hard.

    That was a close one¡ªhe almost yanked his own balls out.

    There was a soft click and tremor, and in the next second, his view changed instantly, as if his soul had left his body. He was outside the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit in the blink of an eye, watching as the battered aircraft spun apart in mid-roll, its various pieces flying chaotically in the sky.

    If it wasn''t for the inbuilt armoryer in the cockpit of the turboprop aircraft and the canopy shielding him from the most violent initial shockwave, it would be him that was falling apart.

    As Chen Fei frantically tried to locate the technical manual that had slipped from his hands, a shiny object came whooshing through the hot, chaotic flow, striking him squarely in the chest with the force of a thunderp.

    Damn, it seemed to be Big Bear Squadron Leader''s Blue Star Er Guotou bottle!

    Before he could even feel the pain, Chen Fei lost consciousness.

    ...

    An oddly-shaped aircraft approached from the sky, its tail shing with white light, slowing down and circling in the area where the "Dragon yer Missile" had just exploded.

    The deep rumble of thunder that sounded like a warning only arrived after the fact.

    The previously rampant Metallic Dragon had vanished without a trace, with fire and iron descending from the sky...

    -

    ```

 Chapter 16: Section 16 - Ten Million Star Yuan

    "Beep, beep, beep..."

    "...No heartbeat, where''s the mage? Don''t stop the healing magic, sync with the CPR!"

    "Heartbeat restored, watch for ventricr fibrition, we got him back, watch out for SIRS and acute kidney injury."

    "Are we really using this? Be careful, not a drop of 0.01 milliliters can be wasted, winged girl, don''t space out, continue the healing magic!"

    ...

    No one knew how much time had passed.

    "...Beep...beep...beep...beep..."

    Hearing the rhythmic electronic sound by his ear, Chen Fei struggled to open his eyes, only to be blinded by the ring white and immediately squint again. After a while, he finally adjusted to the brightness around him.

    It seemed to be a hospital room, no longer needing to question who he was, where he was, or what he was doing.

    The good news was that he had finally survived.

    "Hiss..."

    Chen Fei took a long sigh of relief, feeling a stabbing pain in his chest that made him grimace.

    He finally remembered that he had been hit by a bottle of Erguotou thrown by the stinking Big Bear, Chekhov. Damn bad luck!

    From outside came a series of heavy footsteps, and soon Chen Fei saw therge "super-sized blue sanitary pad" wrapped around a bald head¡ªBig Bear, Squadron Leader Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    Who knew since when, but both of them had been shaved clean, to be precise, every hair on their body was shaved off, truly clean to the core.

    Speaking of the devil, and he appears, Chekhov''s left arm was still slung under his neck, tied with a stabilizer, probably broken.

    This rascal who forcibly dragged him onto the Big Mouth Monster was still alive, what an outrage!

    "Hey! Rookie, are you awake?"

    Major Chekhov, with his callsign "Peanut Butter", grinned widely, seemingly very happy to see Chen Fei regaining consciousness.

    Chen Fei moved his hands and feet and stealthily checked below his waist, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

    Fortunately, nothing was missing, nor anything extra.

    He weakly said, "Squadron Leader Chekhov, where are we?"

    "We''re on a medical ship, don''t worry, you''ll be back up and roaring in no time."

    After all, nearly 300 pounds justy there, recovering quickly, Chekhov had woken up two days before Chen Fei. He couldn''t just lie down, so he flirted with the nurse angels in the hallway outside the hospital room.

    Having roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, everything in the world can be let down, except for masturbating and the Big Daizi.

    No matter ck, white, or yellow, all are fair game; to be precise, there is no racial discrimination, not being picky from a young age is a good habit.

    Having learned a hard lesson, Chen Fei gritted his teeth and said, "I, Chen Fei, even if I''m broke, dying outside, jumping off the medical ship, will absolutely not get on a fighter jet again."

    This time he nearly went to y Chinese chess with King Yama, truly nowhere to reason about it, can he beat this Big Bear? Can''t win? The opponent could pin him to the ground with one hand!

    Well, no worries then!

    Again, footsteps approached outside the hospital room.

    "Chen Fei, Chekhov, good that both of you are here, saves me the trouble of looking separately."

    A young woman wearing an eye patch over her left eye entered Chen Fei''s single room with a few men in ck suits wearing sunsses.

    A cold breeze swept in as the automatic door opened, causing an unavoidable shiver.

    Shamisen strings plucked rapidly, the neer was up to no good, scatter some more withering leaves for a fuller effect.

    "Who are you?"

    Chekhov sized her up, squinting his eyes slightly as a torrent of data cascaded down his pupils.

    Size 35 golden lotus feet, 96 points!

    Evenly shaped legs, 90 points!

    Taut and full buttock curve, 90 points!

    A4 waistline, 95 points!

    G model headlights, a point less would sag, a point more too perky, perfect sticity, 99 points!

    Neck white and slender, a grip''s worth, 94 points!

    Fusion of Eastern and Western oval face shape, 95 points, deduct 10 points for the missing eye, score 85 points!

    Skin like curdled cream, hairless, 90 points

    ck hair smooth, orderly, 90 points!

    Weight estimated under 100 pounds, 92 points!

    Proportionate nine heads tall figure, 90 points!

    Eliminating the highest and lowest scores to obtain an average score of 91.8.

    With his years of experienced driver''s judgment, the challenge level factor is 9.7, still a Cyclops, annoying, hiss...decisive abandonment.

    With this free time, Major Chekhov had already manually inspected every nurse''s station in the corridor, why give up an entire forest for one tree, dumb, right?

    When quality isn''t enough, quantity couldpensate!

    It was only natural to prefer more rather than less, a thought very much in Chekhov''s style.

    "Apocalypse Defense Group, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Level Two Inspector, Hanna Gagar."

    Tall and fair-skinned with a chilly countenance and a melon-seed face, she took a few assessing nces at Chekhov and Chen Fei on the hospital bed with her narrow, elongated phoenix eyes, then raised her hand to disy a small blue booklet.

    The cover featured a crest surrounded by floral vines, and inside were arge portrait, department details, a resume of positions, signatures, and a bright red seal, all looking very high-end.

    Ministry of Internal Affairs¡­

    Chen Fei looked bewildered, having just arrived at the Aircrew Base and not even fully recognizing all the departments yet, let alone understanding what the Ministry of Internal Affairs was.

    Yet, he noticed Chekhov, the big bear, tugging at the corner of his mouth unnaturally. Seeing the few expressionless men in ck suits, he instinctively shrank his neck, feeling that this department must be quite formidable.

    Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable admiration!

    "Hello, hello, Miss Hanna!"

    Chekhov, cautious, swallowed his saliva and extended his intact right hand, squeezing out a smile to please her.

    He had not expected that this time he would provoke the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    "I am here to verify some information."

    The Cyclops, Hanna Gagar, a Level Two Inspector from the Apocalypse Defense Group''s Ministry of Internal Affairs,pletely ignored Chekhov''s extended hand.

    "Ahem, please, go ahead. Oh, let me get you a chair."

    Clearing his throat to cover his own embarrassment, Chekhov fetched a chair from beside Chen Fei''s hospital bed for Hanna Gagar. He carefully wiped it down with his sleeve and, with a smile, said, "Please, have a seat!"

    Waited for Chekhov to arrange the chair, the young female inspector still stood there unmoved, with no intention of sitting down. She said expressionlessly, "The KDK-1 aspirated hypersonic smart missile that killed the Metallic Giant Dragon wasunched from your 211 aircraft, correct?"

    "Ah!?" Chekhov was taken aback, nced at Chen Fei, and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, it was us whounched it!"

    This was a great achievement, only a fool would deny it.

    Chen Fei, barely sitting up, pointed at the big bear and said resolutely, "It was him, he made me do it. I didn''t know anything; I''m in the maintenance team, not a pilot."

    During that moment, adrenaline was secreting wildly, and his brain heated up, fearless in his ignorance. Now when he thought back on it, he couldn''t help but feel scared. If it attracted the revenge of the Metallic Dragon Race or even the entire Dragon n, it''d be better to jump into the sea from this medical ship right now.

    Chekhov: "..."

    He was nearly enraged to death by this rookie. What exactly did he mean by saying these things?

    "I see!"

    Inspector Hanna Gagar was nomittal.

    Chekhov, my man¡ª. ¡ª! : Emmm...

    It''s December''s hanging ount, to be settled quickly. Not quite; it should be December''s meat, settled quickly.

    The female inspector raised her hand, and the man in sunsses and ck suit beside her timely opened his briefcase and handed over a document.

    Her gaze finally rested on Chen Fei, "Thepany has strict regtions and assures the basic rights of every employee. Contributions are rewarded, and transgressions penalized. Chen Fei, in recognition of your sess in ying a Metallic Giant Dragon, thepany awards you 10 million Star Yuan with your probation period ended early, and you are directly offered a permanent employment contract."

    Huh?

    10 million Star Yuan!

    Chen Fei''s eyes involuntarily widened (O.O), and his breathing quickened. His chest pain was gone, and he instantly revived on the spot.

    With this huge sum, not only could he pay off his old debts, but he could also make a profit of 5 million!

    Truly, heaven is just!

    Any more Metallic Giant Dragons?

    Bring me a dozen more!

    Humans perish for wealth, as birds die for food¡ªI shall y dragons!!!

    An ordinary citizen wouldn''t earn 10 million Star Yuan in their entire lifetime.

    This sum could buy Elder Brother Chen''s newly-down-paid wedding house¡ªtwo of them!

    Forget about down payments and mortgages¡ªpay it all at once, debt-free and light-hearted. No worries about the next month''s installment.

    Compared to this substantial reward, enjoying the perks of permanent employment early is nothing. The majority of the sry would to towards debt repayments. The little that remained would scarcely improve Chen Fei''s distressed financial situation.

    "However¡­"

    Inspector Hanna began, her lips parting slightly, words taking a turn, "At the time you were critically injured. To save your life, thepany used a First-Rank Earth Order magic potion to pull you back from the brink of death.

    The ''Life Resuscitation'' potion valued at 12 million, deducting your reward of 10 million, leaves you owing thepany 2 million, to be deducted monthly from your future sry."

    Chen Fei''s expression grew increasingly dismayed¡­

    In darkness, doubts cleared; in treacherous paths, another vige, oh heavens!!!

    Just a moment ago, praising the heavens for their fairness; the next second¡ªbiting his teeth in cursing the thieving heavens mercilessly.

    (T¡÷T)

    Better to have died.

    At least, through idental life insurance and condolence money, after offsetting the debts, this 10 million Star Yuan reward could be wholly handed over to his family.

    Chen Fei was so despondently breathless.

    "Hey! Hey! Rookie, what''s wrong with you?"

    Noticing Chen Fei''s increasingly abnormalplexion, Chekhov turned frantic and started shouting, rapidly pressing the emergency call button beside the bed.

    -

 Chapter 17: Section 17 - Lacking the Gold Element

    "My chest hurts!"

    Chen Fei clutched at his chest, his face turning pale, clearly looking like he was at death''s door.

    The silver he had traded his life for!

    He was deficient in the metallic element, severely so!

    Now, to make matters worse, not only did he owe the creditpany 5 million Star Yuan, but he had also racked up an additional debt of 2 million Star Yuan to thebor corporation, totaling a staggering debt of 7 million Star Yuan. The debt wasn''t shrinking but growing, and the more he thought about it, the more distressed he became.

    An angel in white with wings, a youngdy from the Feathered Tribe of the Cangqiong Realm, arrived in the ward as if flying, holding a delicate magic artifact and proficiently chanting incantations. Soft points of light appeared out of thin air, converging into a fist-sized orb of light that soon fell upon the bed, and in the blink of an eye, entered Chen Fei''s body.

    No need for injections, no need for medication, no need for electric shocks; the magical effect of the Second Rank Human Order Light Healing Spell "Light of Redemption" was immediately apparent.

    Chekhov''s eyes shone brightly as data waterfalls once again started scrolling through his pupils. It was his first time seeing this Feathered Tribe youngdy from the Cangqiong Realm, an Alien Race Mage, and a practitioner of Light Series magic at that¡ªquite a rare sight.

    Little did he know that the old money in Europe were chasing after the Feathered Tribe youngdies, luring many from the Cangqiong Realm into the entertainment industry to act cute.

    While she was still here, Chekhov made sure to get a good look¡ªher delicate face, her arms, her waist, her legs, and those wings¡ªoh my, he was nearly drooling with desire, Uncle Chekhov felt like he was set for the year.

    After the Healing Spell took effect, Chen Fei''splexion quickly improved a lot, but his spirits remained utterly dejected.

    Anyone who had gone through such an emotional rollercoaster would hardly be in good spirits.

    Gathering another orb of light and infusing it into Chen Fei, the Feathered Tribe youngdy then put away her magic artifact. Wiping off a thinyer of sweat from her forehead, she revealed a gentle smile and said, "This is the patient''s first awakening, his body is still very weak and requires rest. Please try not to disturb him too much."

    Using magic was also very draining on one''s vitality and spirit, especially in the Blue Star Realm, where magic was suppressed by the heavenly and earthly rules, requiring more Elemental Mana and spiritual power to achieve the same effects as in the Cangqiong Realm.

    With a slight bow, her wings pped once and she gracefully took off, quickly leaving the ward,ing swiftly and departing just as quickly, like a fleeting glimpse, leaving only a faint scent slowly dissipating.

    Chekhov and the female inspector immediately understood the Feathered Tribe youngdy''s intentions.

    "Chen Fei, you rest well here. All costs of your stay on the medical ship will be covered by thepany," said Hanna Gagar. Having ced a stack of documents on the bedside table, she left the ward with her entourage of sunss-d men in ck suits. Chekhov nced at Chen Fei on the bed, relieved to see him still breathing, and hurriedly followed the others out.

    In the face of massive financial loss and mounting debts, Chen Fei still felt life was not worth living, looking utterly forlorn.

    "Uh, Miss Hanna, what about my bonus?"

    Even a rookie like Chen Fei was entitled to substantial bonus. This made Chekhov very excited and hopeful as he eagerly rubbed his hands together.

    The female inspector seemed to let out a coldugh, her voice emotionless as she said, "Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, for cooperating with Chen Fei in defeating the Metallic Dragons, thepany was going to reward you with 5 million Star Yuan in cash and a promotion by one rank in your job sry.

    However, for dragging nonbat personnel into battle without authorization, you are fined 5 million Star Yuan and demoted by one rank in job sry. Thus, your merits and demerits cancel each other out; no reward, no punishment, no promotion, no demotion."

    "What?"

    Chekhov stood stunned, as if struck, the Feathered Tribe youngdy suddenly losing her allure.

    By the time he snapped back to reality, the Ministry of Internal Affairs staff had long been gone. He banged his head against the wall in a fit of despair, his cries echoing in the corridors, repeatedly and unceasingly.

    Thump, thump, thump¡ªthe vic pile driver began working, and the corridor reverberated with the sound of terrifying impacts.

    The cleaningdy operating the cleaner scolded irritably, "Hey, stop that, Big Bear! If you damage the wall, you have to pay for it!"

    Keep banging, and I''ll turn you from a Big Bear into a little dog yelping with every hit.

    -

    A weekter, the final check-up before discharge.

    The First Earth Order magic potion "Life Resuscitation" from the Cangqiong Realm was wholly trustworthy. Added to that were two doses of the Second Rank Human Order Light Healing Spells "Light of Redemption," and now there was not even a scar to be found on Chen Fei, not even the faint marks from childhood mischief remained.

    "What is this?"

    The doctor examining Chen Fei''s treatment oue held up a finger.

    "That''s the index finger," Chen Fei answered honestly.

    The doctor nodded, tapping on theputer keyboard, and continued to ask, "Alright! Do you feel dizzy? What about pain anywhere else?"

    Answer "1" would have been 100 percent correct; "index finger" is 120 percent. If you could have described the fingerprint, that would be a solid 150 percent since the check was on vision, not logical deduction, so the answers aren''t rigid.

    "No dizziness, just... heartache," Chen Fei pointed to his chest, still not having recovered from the recent events.

    He was unaware that Apocalypse Defense hadn''t deposited his bonus but directly used it to offset the cost of the magic potions. Otherwise, he would have faced a personal ie tax that wasn''t less than 50%.

    After tax deductions, the remaining bonus would then offset the cost of the magic potions, increasing his new debt not to 2 million but at least 7 million, for a total debt exceeding 12 million Star Yuan¡ªmore than enough to keep any hardworking tool-person down forever.

    Freeing his hands from the keyboard, the doctor motioned and asked, "Any other abnormal feelings? For example, hearing strange noises, ringing in the ears, eyes sensitive to light, seeing floaters, numb limbs, loss of taste or smell?"

    "Uh, no..."

    Chen Fei was about to say there was nothing, when he suddenly said, "Doctor, the three-dimensional holographic projection equipment in the room seems to be malfunctioning."

    The doctor was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Three-dimensional holographic projection? What three-dimensional holographic projection?"

    "You know, it''s a character jumping, an ''A'' in front, followed by a colon, a left sh, and a greater than sign, it looks like amand line prompt."

    Chen Fei stretched out his hand, pointing to the "A:\\>" he saw, with an underscore "_" blinking.

    Then, as a matter of course, he grasped at thin air.

    A naked-eye three-dimensional holographic projection is just an illusion, not a real scene; the projected objects look real, but in fact, there''s nothing there.

    The doctor tilted his head to look at the air Chen Fei was pointing to, where indeed there was nothing, and then his gaze swept around the room before he said with utter certainty, "I don''t have any three-dimensional holographic projection here."

    "No?"

    Chen Fei withdrew his hand hesitantly.

    "No!"

    The doctor''s tone was even more confident as he started to type rapidly on the keyboard, definitely not typing anything pleasant.

    Chen Fei inwardly grumbled, the "A:\\>" and the blinking underscore "_" still in his field of vision. When he shifted his gaze... the moon moved, and so did he.

    Huh? Could this naked-eye three-dimensional holographic projection actually track his pupils, was it some ck tech?

    Chen Fei, puzzled, touched his eyes, he didn''t even have sses on him, there was no such thing as ck tech.

    "Hmm, you can be discharged, if you''re not at ease, go for a brain MRI and have another eye examination."

    The doctor pressed a few keys, and the printer on the side quickly spat out several A4 papers, finding thest page, he signed it and handed it over.

    p! A bright red official seal was stamped, and that was that!

    The discharge standard for the International Medical Ship is the absence of any life-threatening conditions; follow-up treatment and recuperation canpletely continue outside.

    "Oh, thank you, doctor."

    Chen Fei took the final examination report, thanked the doctor, and got up to leave.

    He saw the content on the examination report, which included "phantosmia."

    His fatal injuries almost sent him to y Go with Lord Yama; if not for an expensive magic potion yanking his life back, leaving some seque was more than normal.

    Having survived against such odds was no small feat, and one couldn''t hope topletely recover to their original state.

    Because he was concerned, he first went to the neurology department and booked an appointment, then entered the MRI room and headed to the ophthalmology department. After meticulous examinations, Chen Fei came out, rubbing his eyes.

    At this time, Chekhov had alsopleted his discharge examination.

    "Rookie, are you being discharged?"

    Big Bear was still wearing a sling for his arm, but the "blue sanitary napkin" on his head had shrunk.

    He was not as lucky as Chen Fei, without magic potions and light healing spells, his severe injuries healed the fastest, and now he looked as if nothing had happened, not even a scar.

    He had been able to get out of bed and move around since the morning, even had the energy to flirt with girls, while Chekhov''s arm would need at least a month to recover fully, and the new scars on his body would likely remain for a lifetime.

    "It seems I still have a bit of phantosmia."

    Just having had eye drops for pupil dtion, Chen Fei''s vision was somewhat blurry.

    As for the frustration, it was all because of money, not something to be discussed with outsiders.

    Chekhov curiously asked, "Phantosmia, what can you see, ghosts?"

    If a crosshair appeared in his phantosmia, that would be really impressive.

    "An ''A'', a colon, a left sh, a greater than sign, and then a blinking underscore! Do you understand?"

    Chen Fei could tell, Big Bear clearly didn''t have a clue, his face full of bewilderment.

    "..."

    Comrade Chekhov, who had wandered the Jianghu for more than forty years, indeed looked utterly bewildered (£þ¦á£þ).

    Who could tell Uncle Chekhov, what on earth is this aaaah!

    -

 Chapter 18: Section 18 - Return to Base

    A Y-9 medium-sized transport aircraft from far away descended from the sky, and the moment itsnding gear touched down on the runway of Aircrew Base 911, it kicked up a brief trail of white smoke before the aircraft stabilized and, after taxiing for several hundred meters, turned towards the apron.

    The Y-9 had be the most mainstream medium-range transport aircraft, cheap and cost-effective.

    This time it not only brought 20 tons of supplies but also two passengers who were hitching a ride with the wind.

    Seeing the two bald passengers carrying their carry-on bags, the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, code-named "Devil Pepper," cheered, took big strides forward, and pounced on one of them, embracing him tightly.

    At that time, Yamada Yuhu''s Z-9 armed helicopter brought back the unconscious Squadron Leader Chekhov and the grievously injured new recruit Chen Fei, whose fates were uncertain, making everyone''s mood incredibly somber.

    To take down a Metallic Giant Dragon, Aircrew Base 911 paid an unimaginable price; these were achievements traded with lives.

    It wasn''t until today that the two of them finally returned to the base unharmed, that the worries of the people dissipatedpletely.

    "Squadron Leader Chekhov, wee back!"

    The other thirteen pilots lined up and saluted their Squadron Leader Chekhov in unison, one of them leaning on a crutch.

    "Mhm, Little Chili, long time no see, is everyone doing all right?"

    With one arm in a sling and unable to escape, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov was quietly greeted with a hug that was a little too firm.

    I, an old hand at Jianghu for more than forty years, consider all under heaven as strangers, eh? You I cannot afford to provoke!

    "All''s well, Rookie, how are you recovering?"

    The short-hairedss Irinei Rusios extended her fist and thumped it unexpectedly against Chen Fei''s chest.

    "Cough, cough, I''m, I''m okay!"

    Chen Fei rolled his eyes, barely spared by the punch after just recently having taken a magic potion that cost more than ten million Star Yuan.

    Lass, are you waiting to partake in the feast?

    "Phantosmia," this side effect still lingered, and there was no specific medicine that could cure it. The string of characters "A:\\>_" was always in his field of vision. However, as time passed, he grew ustomed to it and easily ignored it, so it didn''t have much of an impact.

    "Take it easy, Irinei, he''s not fully recovered yet. If he ends up bed-ridden again, who''s it going to fall on?"

    Atst, Big Bear spoke a word of fairness.

    When Chen Fei was brought aboard the International Medical Ship, his body was extremely frightening from head to toe, covered in blood. He had not a single piece of intact flesh, and it was truly a miracle that he had managed to cling to life. Now, the weakness and severe loss of vital energy in his body were unavoidable.

    Pilots were known for their robust physiques, and even without an injury, the slender Chen Fei couldn''t withstand the short-haired girl''s punches ¨C one punch to the ground, never to rise again.

    "Mhm, you did a good job this time!"

    Irinei Rusios smiled awkwardly, changed her fist to an open palm, and patted Chen Fei.

    One Shot Soul Entry, beating the Sky Knight to the punch, taking down the extremely vicious Metallic Giant Dragon was an unmatched win, and it even brought glory to the entire "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    At least when boasting with outsiders from the base, they could brazenly im, "Even if a Metallic Giant Dragon attacks Aircrew Base 911, it still has to kneel!" Such grandiose statements were now validated.

    However, the many benefits that came with the sessful killing of a Metallic Giant Dragon were not limited to this. Aircrew Base 911''s defense contract fee for the next cycle would be significantly boosted with confidence, plus the full cashback for the "Dragon yer Missile," and a significant entry in the career records of all team members. This "dividend" wouldst for quite some time.

    The 10 million Star Yuan cash reward nned to offset the cost of the "Life Resuscitation" magic potion did not go beyond expectations much. In fact, the open retail price of this potion on the market had already exceeded 15 million.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group''s internal discount offer of 12 million had already taken into ount various intangible benefits brought on by killing the Metallic Giant Dragon, effectively turning some of it into cash for Chen Fei, just without making it public.

    The workce neer waspletely ignorant of the power of capital. Dead or alive, he had no choice in the matter.

    The wee ceremony was fervent and brief. The "Genuine Fragrance" squadron pilots clustered around their leader, leaving in high spirits. However, Chen Fei saw Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming, the silent and reserved head of the mechanics crew, holding a brand-new set of work clothes.

    The previous set did notst an hour on the neer Chen Fei before it ended up in tatters.

    "Back already?"

    The man, reeking of motor oil, was asconic as ever.

    "Yeah!"

    Chen Fei felt a bit uneasy inside. On his first day on the job, he was lured into the sky, identally killed a Metallic Giant Dragon, scrapped an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light propeller attack aircraft, and tore apart a set of work clothes.

    The most important thing was that a technical manual had been lost.

    If a man who can easily handle such a huge aircraft were to get angry and punch himself, wouldn''t the result be almost as bad as getting hit by a ''Big Bear'' of a punch from Chekhov, that big brute?

    "Let''s move, work starts now, there''s still a lot to do!"

    Showing no emotion, Chief Mechanic Xiao didn''t seem at all like he wanted to get angry; he remained utterly indifferent.

    Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly took the work clothes.

    He had hardly taken a few steps behind Xiao Ming when suddenly, Xiao Ming''s stride halted.

    Chen Fei''s heart lurched again¡ªhad the head of the mechanics finally decided to lose his temper with him?

    For a moment, his legs went weak!

    "Um, this, I forgot to give you this!"

    Chief Mechanic Xiao reached into therge pocket of his work shirt, took out something, and turned around to hand it to Chen Fei.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft Technical Manual (A), its cover marred and worn, seemingly having survived some perilous ordeal.

    Chen Fei recognized it, the technical manual (A) he had lost, which had astonishingly survived the terrible power of the "Dragon yer Missile" and been retrieved. The inner pages had been glued back together, the binding reinforced with stitching, and covered with clearminating film neatly applied to the cover without even a bubble in sight.

    Though it couldn''tpare to its original pristine condition, it was nheless restored to usability. After all, the content was what mattered most.

    Following Chief Mechanic Xiao into the hangar, the mechanics who were still bustling about paused in their work for a brief five-second salute, silently weing the neer, Chen Fei, back to the team.

    Indeed, the attitudes of the subordinates truly reflected their leader.

    Like Xiao Ming, each mechanic was silent and taciturn, quick to action rather than words.

    Chen Fei soon found that, other than having lost a set of work clothes, his technical manual had been returned, and not a single item was missing, including his tabletputer and its dedicated data cable that hadn''t even warmed up yet.

    It was as if nothing had happened at all. Chen Fei continued his apprenticeship, using the data cable to reconnect all the aircraft in the hangar once again.

    Although he had acquired a strange post-visual symptom¡ªan "A:\\>_"¡ªit didn''t affect him too much overall.

    After all, using magic potions from the Cangqiong Realm on a native of the Blue Star Realm was bound to result in some mismatches, leading to unexpected side effects. Such cases were not unusual.

    Compared to those with excessive hair growth, budding horns, tail sprouting, skin color changes, sharpened nails, elongated teeth, swelling into a ball, thinning to a stick, and other bizarre transformations, disying a short string of characters was hardly an issue, as being brought back from death''s brink was ultimately what mattered most.

    The casualties at Aircrew Base 911 were significant, with two MiG-28 jet fighters and three A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft lost; the base''s aerialbat strength had been reduced by a third. However, everyone seemed far from despondent¡ªrather, they appeared quite cheerful!

    At lunch in the base canteen, Chen Fei discovered why: Pu Aihua was back at his part-time canteen job, using his spare time to make a little extra money for household expenses. He returned the "Magical Beast Eggs" (actually eggs of some unknown wild bird, or perhaps snake eggs), the grass nest, and the wooden box to Chen Fei.

    Stubborn as ever, he hadn''t taken it back to deceive others again, but had returned it to its rightful owner.

    A bemused Chen Fei could only ept the inescapable gesture of goodwill when he heard Pu whispering sneakily after looking around, "Psst! Chen Fei, did you manage to find that ''thing''?"

    "That ''thing''? Which ''thing''?"

    Chen Fei was as confused as a monk at a loss¡ªentirely befuddled.

    What in the world was this guy secretly hinting at?

    "You know, that ''thing''!"

    Pu Aihua was getting anxious, raising his voice a bit before startling and ncing around again, wary of being overheard.

    "How should I know what ''thing'' you mean if you don''t tell me?"

    Throwing his chopsticks into his te, Chen Fei gave up on lunch, losing patience with this guy. When would he ever let up?!

    With gritted teeth, Pu Aihua leaned in close to Chen Fei''s ear, speaking in a barely audible whisper, "You know... did you pick up any ''Metallic Dragon Shards''?"

    "Metallic Dragon Shards?"

    Chen Fei looked at Pu Aihua in surprise; before he could reply, Pu reached out a hand to cover his mouth. Hurriedly pushing the intrusive hand away, Chen Fei frowned in disdain and said, "What the hell are you trying to do?"

    -

 Chapter 19: Section 19 - The Value of the Metallic Dragon Clan

    "Shhh, we can''t talk about that here; it''ll cause trouble!"

    Pu Aihua was so frightened that her hairs stood on end, and she looked around furtively yet again.

    Normally, mentioning the Metallic Dragons wouldn''t be a big deal, but at this critical moment, at the Aircrew Base 911, it had be a sort of taboo.

    "Why pick up that kind of stuff?"

    Having seen the ferocity and terror of the Metallic Dragons, Chen Fei only wanted to stay as far away from anything rted to the Metallic Dragons as possible.

    If it weren''t for being coerced by that wretched Big Bear Chekhov, he would have never willingly initiated an attack on the Metallic Dragons; only a madman would do such a thing.

    Indeed, that Chekhov was a madman.

    If it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t overpower him, Chen Fei would have pinned him down in a toilet and beaten him up long ago, to let Yi Xiao know that those who offend us Strong Men will be punished, no matter how far away they are.

    "Of course it''s for money! Lots and lots of money. Don''t you want to earn money?"

    Pu Aihua vigorously rubbed her fingers together.

    She had heard that the new guy was also deep in debt, just like everyone else in the Poor Folks Alliance; they should definitely coborate.

    Money emboldened people. Previously, Pu Aihua wouldn''t have dared, but now, the remnants of the Metallic Dragons were scattered near the Aircrew Base. If she didn''t seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a risk, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

    "There was once a chance to get rich quickly right before my eyes, but..."

    But let it go!

    What use are regrets!

    Recently, about twenty-some people came to the Aircrew Base 911. They didn''t interact with other departments and dug three feet into the ground in the area where the Metallic Dragons had fallen, sweeping back and forth with a metal detector, scanning each inch of the ground at least eight times before they were satisfied.

    These people were certainly not doing this out of boredom.

    But because the fallen Metallic Dragon was literally a gold mine, no, even more precious than a gold mine.

    Despite an explicit prohibition on private dealings, that still couldn''t stop the illegal buying and selling that happened behind the scenes.

    "Yeah, I think so! But there''s nothing, absolutely nothing!"

    Chen Fei shook his head like a rattle-drum.

    If he really did find something, he''d probably be stripped clean before he ever made it to the operating table, not even a hair left.

    On the medical ships, nurses called this process "skin preparation."

    Once someone was lifted onto the table, every big boss was called a Blue Dragon Warrior, equality between the sexes, with women known as the Unmatched White Tiger, nobody could escape.

    Chen Fei''s head was still bare, only slightly covered with fuzzy stubble, and that Big Bear Chekhov looked as if he had taken vows at the Shaolin Temple, especially with a very conspicuous "mini sanitary pad" on top.

    Moreover, not long after the ejection, Chen Fei had fallen into aa where he waspletely unconscious of everything, leaving only others to pick up around him ¡ª he couldn''t pick up anything himself!

    "Think about it again, think again!"

    Pu Aihua was very anxious.

    She had already found out that just a piece as small as a soybean could sell for several thousand Star Yuan, and if it were as big as a fist, it would fetch even more money.

    "Pu Aihua, what are you doing? Get over here and help."

    From the direction of the kitchen came the angry shouts of the on-duty chef Abel, extremely dissatisfied that this wheeler-dealer was once again doing things unrted to work.

    Sooner orter, he''d fire thiszy bum and send him back to Goryeo to munch on his old rice.

    "Okay, Abel, I''lle right away."

    Pu Aihua quickly responded loudly, then said to Chen Fei, "If you find something, you muste to me, I can give you a good price."

    "Got it, got it!"

    Chen Fei had no choice but to nod his head, wanting nothing more than to quickly send this annoying fellow away.

    Metallic Dragons and the like had absolutely nothing to do with him, nor did they interest him in any way.

    "You must remember this!"

    After taking a few steps toward the kitchen, Pu Aihua turned back, still unwilling to give up.

    "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!"

    What else could Chen Fei say?

    This meal trulycked any vor.

    -

    The Metallic Dragon n from the Cangqiong Realm held enormous value for the Blue Star Realm, which was built on an industrial foundation, far surpassing other dragon ns.

    The Metallic Dragons, which consumed metal, unlike the entire lineage of the Dragon n, appeared more as a bizarre species of alloy body.

    The alloy materials derived from the Metallic Dragons, if used in the industrial sphere, would instantaneously break the shackles of foundational material fields and also serve as the best material for creating high-precision, high-performance, and long-lifespan machinery.

    What is technology, what is craftsmanship, if not simply products of submission to basic materials.

    If bricks could fly, then there would be no need to painstakingly study the damned Bernoulli''s principle, or the nonsense of fluid dynamics¡ªflight would solve it all.

    In the industrial field, the most expensive energy assemblyponents, the SEG core units, have their only public source within the Metallic Dragon n. The cost of artificial production is way too high, with a terrifyingly high failure rate, rendering itpletely unviable for mass production. Only a few professionalboratories inadvertently seeded in making one or two units.

    They treasured these imperfect products like precious secrets, kept behind closed doors for personal use, never shown lightly to others.

    Even so, the quantity of high-tech industrial goods such as SEG core units provided by the Metallic Dragon n to both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm each year remained limited to a handful, making it extraordinarily difficult to extract more from those greedy beings, who wouldn''t even make concessions for their own Dragon King.

    To hell with it, I''m right at the Dimensional Gate,e at me if you dare!

    The entire Metallic Dragon n was almost one with the Dimensional Gate.

    The oue, of course, was... they wouldn''t dare to attack! Wouldn''t dare to attack!

    That was an entire world''s worth of countless resources. Compared to it, the Metallic Dragon n was not even as significant as a drop in the ocean.

    Everyone knew that the naturally treasured Metallic Dragons, formidable and fearsome, were tempting but too dangerous to provoke.

    On one hand, the Metallic Dragon n heavily guarded the Dimensional Gate, which was of critical importance to both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm. Which was more important, the Dimensional Gate or the Metallic Dragons?

    In fact, it wasn''t even a choice; any fool knew that without the Dimensional Gate, it would bepletely gone. Not only would interaction between the two realms suffer greatly, but it could also trigger uncontroble disasters.

    The history of the Dimensional Gate on the Cangqiong side was no secret¡ªit had been called the "Annihtion Ring" for a reason, having been constructed with the power of an entire.

    Byparison, the Metallic Dragon n wasn''t a throwaway trade. At least they could reproduce and thrive, like endless crops. Which was more beneficial was clear, as there tended to be an emphasis on a sustainable and upright development.

    On the other hand, the Metallic Dragons were ultimately a part of the Dragon Race. The contemporary Dragon King was a Metallic Dragon, and who dared to hunt any Metallic Dragon. At a word from the Dragon King, a single spit from the Dragon Race would be enough to overwhelm any nation.

    Even sovereign nations couldn''t afford to provoke them, not to mention organizations or individuals.

    However, there were always exceptions. Everyone knew that the Metallic Dragons, famously known as the "Dragons of ughter," even feared themselves when maddened. If any of them courted death, there was nothing that could be done¡ª it couldn''t be allowed to run amok!

    The agreement reached between the Cangqiong Realm and Blue Star Realm included specific uses stating that any dragon entering the Otherworld without permission and going berserk could be assigned a kill tally. Then whoever made the kill could profit from it¡ªskin peeled, tendons pulled, bones dismantled, blood drained and flesh cut to offset the damage caused. It was as simple as that.

    This use was meant as both a warning and constraint specifically upon the unrestful elements within the Dragon n, especially amongst the Metallic Dragons, and it also motivated relevant organizations in both realms to take action to control the situation, mitigate worsening scenarios, and preventwless, harmful dragons from causing too much destruction that could affect the peace and stability of the Cangqiong Realm and Blue Star Realm.

    In a sense, this opened up a loophole, albeit not a straightforward one.

    Honestly, waiting for the Metallic Dragons to doom themselves had a fairly high probability. Compared with the birth rate of the current Metallic Dragon n, such deaths mattered little. Even the contemporary Dragon King wouldn''t care, turning a blind eye¡ªit was better for such brainless fools to die off quickly so as not to trouble everyone.

    Using human thought processes, it was impossible toprehend the true thoughts of the dragons.

    After all, their moral views didn''t align, and the fact that they weren''t fighting on the spot was already quite considerate.

    The 911 Aircrew Base, along with several other bases, gradually receivedbat orders that, if traced to their origin, were found to actuallye from the Cangqiong Realm.

    This was indeed an unexpected answer.

    -

 Chapter 20: Section 20 - Breaking Out of the Shell

    The Giant Dragon named "Bit", belonging to the Metallic type, had crashed near the Aircrew Base. As the higher authority owning all property rights, Apocalypse Defense Group, firmly holding the home field advantage, was bound to take the lion''s share. They would gain a profit of at least several billion Star Yuan, far exceeding the defense contracting fees.

    In contrast, for individuals, the big shots could casually let slip a little, which would be enough to make someone like Pu Aihua, considered insignificant, quite wealthy.

    The Aircrew Base was keeping a tight watch on the area where the Metallic Giant Dragon had fallen, not even a fly could get in. Pu Aihua saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although he had the inclination, hecked the boldness, and instead pinned his hopes on Chen Fei who had once had close contact with the Metallic Giant Dragons.

    Yet unexpectedly, this neer showed no interest in such a rare chance to strike it rich, which was deeply disappointing.

    Chen Fei, who had just been discharged from the hospital, waspletely upied and paid no attention to Pu Aihua''s grand schemes. His focus was on the technical manuals that the head mechanic, Xiao Ming, had given him. Thetter had specially picked up Set A, carefully rebound it, and expected nothing less than Chen''s full dedication.

    Thoroughly understanding these technical manuals was a necessary phase before officially starting work in the mechanic team. Failing to do so and being shamefully kicked out was not an option.

    In order not to be looked down upon, Chen Fei even brought back the intense spirit of his college entrance examination, embracing the manuals ceaselessly whether at meals or in the restroom. When the day shift of the mechanic team went to work, he would sit in the work area all day with the manuals in hisp.

    When night fell and the mechanic team changed shifts, he would then return to his dormitory with the technical manuals, reading until he fell asleep.

    Set A was the general outline, which Chen Fei scrutinized with extra diligence, naturally slowing down his reading pace.

    After finishing work, he quickly took a hot shower, changed into clean clothes, sat on his bed with the manual, and continued reading attentively. Sometimes he silently read aloud, sometimes cross-referencing with data downloaded onto his tablet.

    What he saw was not just the standard content, but also the solutions applied by mechanics, from which he learned numerous useful operational experiences.

    The deskmp by the bed used a 70-watt halogen bulb, which cast a warm yellow light tinged with a bit of heat onto a so-called "Magical Beast Egg" and a Little Bird''s nest, both gifts from Pu Aihua.

    Pu Aihua clearly did not care much for the egg,cking both a specialized incubator and any thought of trying to hatch it, let alone knowing the appropriate temperature and humidity for incubation. Perhaps he had never even considered letting the creature inside the egg hatch.

    With no better options, Chen Fei could only hope that the light from the halogen bulb might have some meager effect.

    Bathed in the halogen light resembling sunlight, the small egg seemed gradually awakened, as an imperceptible, faint heartbeat arose at some point. A tiny embryo was forming in the egg fluid, enveloping the yolk.

    Immersed in his book, Chen Fei waspletely unaware of this. He did not even know if the egg was that of a bird, snake, lizard, or some other creature, or even if it was just a fake egg meant to deceive him.

    That scammer was best at using his glib tongue to paint dog excrement as gold; such actions from him wouldn''t be surprising at all.

    Nonsense! Thinking unlimited 2.0!

    As the night deepened, Chen Fei could not help but start yawning.

    There were still over forty pages left in the technical manual (Set A), but he had no intention of stopping there. Instead, he nned to soldier on and finish it all in one go.

    "Tap tap... tap... chirp... tap thud tap... thud thud thud... thud thud..."

    As he was turning the pages, his hand suddenly stopped. Chen Fei puzzled over who might be knocking in Morse code but, following the sound, he discovered that the strange noise was actuallying from his own bedside table.

    "... thud thud... thud thud..."

    It sounded quite rhythmic. Bathed in the light of the halogen, the egg was gently rocking, its shell surface unknowingly punctured by a small hole.

    Huh!?

    Was it about to hatch?

    Chen Fei''s eyes widened.

    He had not noticed that a metal-glossed granule about the size of a soybean, hidden in the page he had just flipped, was the culprit. As he turned to look at the egg making the strange noise, his fingertip came ever closer to the granule...

    "Hiss!~"

    A strange pain shot through the tip of his middle finger. Startled, Chen Fei lifted his hand to find his fingertip punctured by something, as blood started to ooze out. Looking back at the technical manual, the pages revealed a shallow indent, empty of anything.

    "... thud thud... chirp..."

    In the Little Bird''s nest under the deskmp, the egg''s shaking intensified, the pinhole expanded, and the cracks became more visible.

    The little creature inside could not wait toe out.

    With a puzzled look, Chen Fei flipped through the technical manual, searched the bed, but never found what had punctured his finger, nor could he determine its shape. Finally, he gave up, quickly grabbed a Band-Aid, wrapped his finger, and returned to observe the increasingly active egg.

    With a soft "plop," one end of the eggshellpletely burst open, and a tiny bird, eyes closed andpletely bare, rolled out covered in mucus. It kicked its little legs incessantly in the nest, chirping non-stop.

    Emmmm... Such a small thing, held in the palm, could be squashed into a bloody mess, couldn''t it?

    Ah! Chen Fei suddenly shuddered and woke up, what was he thinking with such a horrific thought, has he gone mad?!

    Buddha bless, ultimate deity guide, may God protect me, listen to Dang''smand, I am not one of those brutally evil folks, how could I bear to harm such a young creature, it is a life after all.

    Right, this is just a bird egg, absolutely confirmed.

    The mouth of Pu Aihua, that lying ghost, still calling it a Magical Beast Egg, who are you kidding!

    Chen Fei really wanted to drag Pu Aihua over and make him open his Husky dog eyes to see, what the heck kind of Magical Beast is this?

    But then the real problem arises, what does this little bird eat?

    This is indeed a big problem.

    Chen Fei had never even fed a chicken, who knows what such a small bird eats to grow up, maybe mix some milk powder?

    Forget it, forget it, let the bell ringer solve it.

    Carefully taking the nest out of the wooden box and wrapping it in a T-shirt, Chen Fei then held the T-shirt and left the dormitory.

    When he found Pu Aihua, the guy was energetically mopping the floor in the cafeteria. Upon seeing Chen Fei, he was initially stunned, then as if he remembered something, excitedly called out, "Little Chen, did you really find it?"

    Chen Fei was also stunned, but quickly realized what the other party was referring to and immediately said in annoyance, "Find a ghost, see for yourself!"

    "Let me see!"

    Pu Aihua sneakily nced around, then set aside his mop and tiptoed over, looking expectantly at what was in Chen Fei''s hands.

    Uh...

    Hoping for a miracle, Pu Aihua saw a bare, ugly chick that looked like it had just hatched not long ago.

    The smile on his face instantly froze, simida.gif!

    Ah, can I curse?

    No!

    Then never mind!

    "What, what is going on?"

    Pu Aihua looked embarrassed, almost dropping his pants, just to show me your bird?

    What does this mean?

    "Old Piao, where is the magical beast you promised?"

    Chen Fei snorted, you ask me what''s going on, I should be asking you!

    "Ah!~~~ This, this is that egg?"

    Pu Aihua expressed his surprise, recognizing the nest holding the chick.

    He casually picked up the nest and egg in the wild, just to fool a neer. He originally thought that without a parent to incubate it, it would turn into a dead egg, and if kept long, it would even start to smell. But he didn''t expect that after he gave it to Chen Fei, it actually hatched.

    "Can I find a chicken egg for you to hatch too?"

    Chen Fei was not so easily fooled.

    "This, this!" Pu Aihua''s eyes were spinning wildly, seemingly making up some excuse on the spot.

    Yeah, keep making it up!

    Pu Aihua then pped his hands forcefully and said indignantly, "Ah, even I got deceived!"

    The merchant instantly turned into a drama king, acting skills off the charts, breaking through the sky.

 Chapter 21: Section 21 - Wild Dream

    "This egg was a freebie with a purchase, and they kept saying it was a Magical Beast Egg, so I believed them. Oh dear, I''m so sorry, I didn''t do it on purpose, I was deceived too, damn those fraudulent merchants, they really deserve no peace. Little Chen, how about this, next time I''ll find you a real Magical Beast Egg, no, a real Magical Beast? Old Piao''s word is as good as gold."

    Pu Aihua dramatically clutched his chest and stomped his feet, proiming himself a victim of deception while casually ming it on the ambiguous "dishonest merchant."

    As for "next time," who knows when that would be; at the moment it was just a way to stall.

    Otherwise, if his reputation copsed, it would be hard to keep doing his small trades at Aircrew Base.

    "..."

    Witnessing Pu Aihua''s explosive acting, Chen Fei was stunned, and soon found it somewhatughable.

    He quickly waved his hands, interrupting Pu Aihua''s impassioned denunciation of that "dishonest merchant" who had deceived him.

    "Alright, alright, stop! How you deal with that merchant is your business, it has nothing to do with me. No need to get me any Magical Beast Eggs or Magical Beasts, I couldn''t afford to raise them even if you did."

    If he didn''t intervene, who knows, the man might even end up offering snake eggs or insectrvae, which would be even scarier.

    "Don''t worry, leave it to me, I''ll take care of it."

    Pu Aihua patted his lean chest with vigor but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    No need to bother, no need to fuss, saving him the effort of finding more bizarre items to continue bluffing his way through.

    As for the market value of a Magical Beast Egg, if he had one, he wouldn''t be acting as a shady merchant.

    Pu Aihua''s gazended on the bird nest wrapped in a T-shirt and the young birds inside. Just as he reached out his hand, Chen Fei stopped him.

    "Wait, what are you doing?"

    "Er! I thought I''d deep fry it for a midnight snack, it looks quite tasty."

    Watching the young birds chirp non-stop in the nest, Pu Aihua swallowed and poked with a stick; it was a ready-made grilled bird skewer!

    "Stop, stop, stop, you can''t do this. It''s a life after all, how can you bear to?"

    Chen Fei firmly prevented this cruel act of killing a young creature.

    "Hehe, such a small bird, frying it would be delicious!"

    Pu Aihua justified his actions with a straight face and chuckled, then added: "Otherwise, how should we deal with it?"

    This gluttonous guy was actually pretending to consider Chen Fei''s interests; fry it up, eat it in one bite, and out of sight, out of mind. Why didn''t he just throw himself into the pot and fry up nicely, turn into a fried ghost, that would be fragrant too.

    "Of course I will raise it, then release it!"

    Chen Fei red at him, speaking with moral fortitude.

    He himself had never entertained such a malicious thought as dropping the young bird into the frying oil; he was truly a bit infuriated by this guy.

    "Ah? Raise it? And then release it?"

    Pu Aihua gaped, seemingly shocked by the other''s inconceivable idea.

    He instinctively touched Chen Fei''s forehead, then touched his own, no fever!

    How could such a tiny creature be raised?

    That seemed not so easy!

    "Exactly, I came to ask you, what does this little bird eat? Can it drink milk?"

    Chen Fei finally rified his purpose to prevent further misunderstandings.

    Pu Aihua, hands on hips and scratching his cheek, looked perplexed and distressed.

    "This...probably shouldn''t drink milk, right!"

    This was really urgent.

    Based on his years of experience, birds should eat insects, but finding insects for the young bird right at this moment was a big challenge.

    It might notst more than a couple of days.

    It was too difficult!

    Chen Fei asked with a puzzled expression, "You don''t know?"

    Pu Aihua continued to scratch his head, clearly stillcking any solid ideas.

    "Wait, let me think, just let me think."

    He didn''t want this young man to think less of him; he quickly gestured and then continued to rack his brains.

    "Feed the bird? If there are no insects, you can feed it some chick feed, and if there''s no chick feed, then use egg yolk as a temporary measure; don''t feed it grains, the nutrients in grains aren''t enough."

    Just at that moment, a voice interjected.

    Pu Aihua jumped and quickly turned around, speaking in a frightened and respectful tone, "Chef Abel!"

    "Hello, Chef!"

    Chen Fei also greeted.

    There stood a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a white chef''s uniform not far away, his gaze falling on the T-shirt in Chen Fei''s hand, precisely on the bird nest wrapped in it.

    He asked with a puzzled expression, "Where did you get this young bird from, don''t you know that the correct thing to do is to leave it to its parents to care for?"

    Chef Abel''s gaze was very stern; he was very annoyed by those who unnecessarily troubled wild animals in nature.

    Although Abel wasn''t an animal rights activist, he couldn''t stand such reckless behavior.

    Chen Fei looked toward Pu Aihua; he surely wasn''t going to take the me for this.

    "I''m very sorry, this was my fault!"

    Pu Aihua nced at Chen Fei, then at the displeased Chef, and could only force a dryugh and admit fault.

    A single word from the other party could kick him out of Aircrew Base; how could he not be careful in serving them?

    Besides, behind one lie often lies the need for a hundred more to cover it up; he had just imed that the egg came from a different crook, he surely couldn''t now say that he had picked it up in the wilderness, could he?

    It was like swallowing blood along with one''s teeth; Pu Aihua was simultaneously bearing the scorn and me from both Chen Fei and Chef Abel, and his entire demeanor seemed much diminished.

    "How about we try feeding it some egg yolk first?"

    Without a better idea, Chen Fei decided to ept Chef Abel''s suggestion.

    Birds rely on the nutrition from the egg yolk to develop and hatch, and then continue feeding on egg yolk, so it seemed feasible.

    "Wait a moment, Pu Aihua,e with me!" Abel gave a stern re at the man, then turned to leave.

    Pu Aihua followed him a couple of steps, then turned back, patting his chest, "Leave the chick feed to me; I''ll make sure to get it soon."

    It was just chick feed; asking a few people around ought to do the trick easily.

    Chef Abel, without turning back, said, "You better also get some live mealworms, and get some bran for breeding them ourselves; just feed won''t be enough."

    "Ah! Got it, got it!"

    Pu Aihua bowed and nodded in agreement.

    After all, it was his mess, and he had the responsibility and obligation to help solve it.

    Getting some egg yolk for the chick was hardly an issue for a kitchen that boasted abundant ingredients.

    Casually take a Han white egg, steam it over water, simmer for five minutes on low heat, then a high me for another five, and inste it for five more; fifteen minutes should do it. Crack the eggshell, split the already solid egg white, take an ear scoop, scoop out an amount of yolk no muchrger than a sesame seed, smash it into the bird''s mouth, and done.

    After smashing about a dozen scoops, adding up to about the size of a soybean, the chick was content and stopped chirping, snuggling in the nest dozing off, only asionally chirping softly.

    Chen Fei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    ...

    Error!

    Error!

    Unidentified valid CPU type

    Memory self-test failed

    No input/output device found

    No memory found

    Loading BIOS failed

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    ...

    "Shut down, aaaaagh!"

    Drenched in sweat, Chen Fei sat up in bed, shaking his head vigorously; he seemed to have had a bizarre, wild dream.

    What a bunch of nonsensical stuff, over and over again, utterly annoying.

    "Chirp! Chirp!"

    Following the sound, he looked in astonishment; it turned out to be the little bird in the nest by his bed calling out, mistaking it for the rm sound of aputer error, as they were strikingly simr.

    Sounds like it''s hungry, right?

    Chen Fei finally understood the hardships of a bird mother; he was about to go grab the feeding egg yolk and ear scoop but then froze.

    The visuals of "phantosmia" before his eyes were no longer just a small, easily ignored bit of characters "A:\\>_", there were several more lines of text now.

    "Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    ..."

    Wasn''t this just something from his wild dream?

    And now it was even scrolling across his vision, absolutely ridiculous.

    Since he had just woken up and still clearly remembered everything from the dream, Chen Fei felt that his previous dream was no ordinary dream but was connected to the aftereffects of his "phantosmia," which seemed to have changed anew.

    -

 Chapter 22: Section 22 - Chen Feis Bird

    Chen Fei didn''t get a good night''s sleep, partly due to the aftereffects of sudden "phantosmia" changes, and partly because there was now a baby bird rm clock in his room, crying every half hour on the dot, relentlessly calling until fed, and then continuing to sleep until dawn, by which time he had fed it half an egg yolk.

    This little thing, although small, could eat and poop a lot, requiring three diaper changes per meal, and he had to change the napkin lining its nest afterward; otherwise, it would roll around in its own filth, and the smell in the dormitory would be quite strange.

    After breakfast and another feeding for the baby bird, Chen Fei, on his way to his shift at the hangar, now had a little sidekick.

    He upied the deserted work area and the workbench as if it were his personal desk.

    The bird''s nest was ced in a wooden box, which in turn was ced atop other technical manuals, waiting for the bird''s cry before feeding; Chen Fei had be a passive human bird feeder.

    The baby bird''s feeding schedule couldn''t align with that of a human, not even a human infant, who would also need to cry, poop, and feed every two hours; being a parent of any kind was by no means an easy task.

    If they waited for Chen Chen to return for lunch and after work to feed it, the little thing would probably have starved to death, not to mention in a pile of its own excrement.

    Before finding suitable chick feed, they still needed egg yolks, which the bird could consume inrge quantities within half a day, and its appetite was clearly on the rise. The kind-hearted Chef Abel would prepare boiled eggs in advance and had Pu Aihua deliver them on schedule.

    When washing vegetables and asionally finding a worm or two, the crafty vendor would excitedly offer the extra protein to Chen Fei''s baby bird, and even the usually stern-faced Abel would reveal a smile of satisfaction, knowing that the little bird was finally able to eat the most natural food, which would aid in its growth.

    If it had been in the past, he would have cursed the food suppliers for including bugs in the vegetables as if they intended to offer extra protein!

    The uncharacteristically amiable tone from Mr. Chef had the supplier in a panic, wondering if it was time to look for a new one. It seemed all too much like offering ast meal before an execution.

    Luckily, Chen Fei''s current duties were not demanding; his main task was to read and quickly familiarize himself with the aircraft maintenance team''s work, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been able to spare the time to care for this little life that had suddenlye into his world.

    This bird of unknown species, despite eating and pooping a lot, paid off for the hard work of being fed 48 times a day, and in just three days, its naked little body was covered with a thinyer of downy feathers, and it had grown considerably in size.

    Although Chef Abel didn''t know how to raise a little bird, he shared all his knowledge of poultry rearing with Chen Fei.

    After all, the chefs in Abel''s hometown were possessed by a fervor for cuisine; not satisfied with just eating eggs, they went out of their way to ponder over the hens thatid them, and as a result, the chickens they raised had gained some renown in the culinary world.

    It was only by chance that Chen Fei noticed the bird had opened its eyes for the first time and was looking at him with its shiny, ck beads,pletely still and quiet.

    It had actually opened its eyes!

    Chen Fei was both surprised and delighted.

    Though there''s a belief that a newborn creature will consider the first living thing it sees as its parent, this notion isn''t wholly urate. It''s the familiar scent and vibrations before opening its eyes that make a young creature feel safe andfortable; vision simply makes the already familiar "parent figure" clearer.

    To continue to deepen and strengthen this bond, more nurturing andpanionship are required.

    Whether willing or not, suchpanionship between birds and humans wouldn''tst long. Chen Fei hadn''t even nned to prepare a cage; he was mentally ready for the day when the little fellow would spread its full-grown wings, fly away, and return to nature, where the most suitable home for birds awaited.

    Being deprived of their natural instincts is a form of cruelty for wild animals!

    Although he would miss it, Chen Fei didn''t want to selfishly impose his own preferences on another living being; he''d rather leave things to fate.

    The baby bird with opened eyes grew even faster, eating and pooping more than ever, its downy feathers growing fuller by the day, no longer the entirely red little ball of flesh from when it hatched, but now a lovable ck fluffy ball. The intervals between feedings began to lengthen, and its daily routine finally divided into day and night.

    After nightfall, it only needed feeding once or twice before it could quietly make it through to morning, relieving Chen Fei from the exhausting frequent feedings.

    In theory, he should have been able to sleep well atst, but Chen Fei''s dark circles were getting heavier, and the quality of his sleep hadn''t improved at all. He had to make an appointment with the medical unit at the Aircrew Base and informed Xiao Ming, the maintenance chief, then left work early after dinner.

    This was Chen Fei''s first follow-up visit to the Aircrew Base medical team since he was discharged from the hospital.

    What he originally did not take too seriously, the "Phantosmia," somehow began to affect his normal sleep. Once he fell asleep, he would be gued by incessant bizarre dreams, and the content was inexplicably the same each time, as if cursed, "Error! Error! Cannot recognize valid CPU type, RAM self-check failed... Illegal operation or wrong instruction... Illegal operation or wrong instruction...

    Illegal operation or wrong instruction..."

    Upon opening his eyes, things became even stranger. Not only was the original "A:\\>_" there, but also all the content from his dreams, word for word, eventually turning into forcefully scrolling repeat subtitles.

    No matter how much he blinked, these characters still existed, firmly upying a significant portion of his field of vision, as if a 32-inch disy screen was floating in front of him at all times, interfering with his normal vision. Only when he concentrated fully could he subconsciously ignore these strange characters.

    Although the number of medical staff serving more than two hundred people was notrge, their experience was very rich, and they had every piece of medical equipment and instrument necessary.

    They efficiently carried out a full MRI and a high-precision CT scan of Chen Fei''s brain, then inspected his eyes carefully, leaving the medical team''s doctors scratching their heads.

    The young man was not gravely ill. Despite using various diagnostic methods, the doctors still could not find the root of the problem. All they could conclude was that Chen Fei was very healthy and did not have any illness whatsoever.

    Having no other choice, the medical team could only prescribe some sleeping pills and added a note on the diagnostic report suspecting hysteria and sleep disorders. Still, they could not help him eliminate the vast "Phantosmia" content before his eyes.

    The sleeping pills indeed had some effect, enabling Chen Fei to finally get a solid night''s sleep, but they also had side effects. Waking up in the morning with an inexplicable splitting headache, he could not help but grit his teeth and gasp for air asionally.

    It wasn''t until midday that his indescribable headache began to ease slightly.

    Now he was faced with a dilemma. Taking the medication led to abnormal headaches upon waking, while not taking it resulted in torment from bizarre dreams,ck of rest, and a gradually withering appearance.

    As an adult, it seemed Chen Fei had no choice but to ept both.

    Perhaps a more advanced "magic potion" would not have left any after-effects, but as a Rookie who had just reported for duty, he clearly didn''t merit that price. The fact that his credit for killing the Metallic Dragons wasn''t erased and instead used to deduct the cost of the "magic potion" for life-saving purposes was already a show of conscience on the part of the capitalists.

    After all, an unfortunate child on the verge of death really had no choice. Simply being alive was already cause for gratitude, and there was no room to consider anything else. The most important thing was to survive.

    "Chirp! Chirp!"

    The seven-day-old Little Bird was getting increasingly lively, enjoying rolling around on the fresh napkins it used as bedding and fluttering its tender little wings.

    Soft gray-ck fine down began to give way to the blunt stubs of feathers, rigid like spikes and a little rough to the touch. Once they fully spread out, they would turn into orderly,yered feathers, allowing it to gradually take on the appearance of an adult bird.

    Only then could one determine what species the Little Bird actually was.

    "Sunflower seeds, peanuts, beer, airne cups, anyone interested?"

    Pu Aihua once again started pushing her little trolley around the base, conducting her entrepreneurial side job to supplement the household ie.

    Although she didn''t make much, every little bit adds up to a substantial extra ie.

    Working in the kitchen, even with bonuses, she couldn''t earn much.

    By the end of the month, it was still less than what Chen Fei made during his probationary period, but with the severe domestic job insecurity in Goryeo and a persistently high unemployment rate, someone Pu Aihua''s age¡ªwell into her 35th year without any significant skills¡ªwas already quite fortunate to have a job at all, let alone be choosy.

    Just as Pu Aihua entered Hangar 1 with her cart, she called out from afar.

    "Little Chen, I''ve got some chicken feed for you to try!"

    -

 Chapter 23: Section 23 - Ministry of Internal Affairs Arrests People

    "Emmmmm..."

    Pu Aihua''s conscience was so corrupted that he actually wanted me to eat chicken feed, and Chen Fei stood up in annoyance.

    "Old Piao, have you ever tasted what it''s like?"

    Pu Aihua said gleefully, "Hahaha, of course it''s... delicious!"

    The moment he said those words, he realized he spoke too quickly, making a joke of himself.

    "How much did you make? Don''t make too much, otherwise it''ll go to waste."

    Seeing the other party going along, Chen Fei let him off the hook.

    Considering the tiny size and appetite of the young bird, a few pounds of feed would be more than enough until it reached adulthood.

    "Ten pounds of chick feed, plus five pounds of wheat bran and half a pound of mealworms, should be enough, right?"

    Pu Aihua pushed a cart over cheerfully, puckered his lips toward the now open-eyed young bird in the nest, making chirping sounds to catch the little one''s attention, no longer mentioning his sinister idea of blowing it up into roasted skewers.

    "Chirp! Chirp!"

    The naive young bird was still rolling around, blissfully unaware of the merchant''s once full-blown malice.

    "Enough, enough, that''s plenty!"

    Chen Fei didn''t n on taking care of this little bird forever; once its feathers were full, it could fly away on its own.

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was barren, but for wild animals, it was heaven.

    An airport is not exactly a friendly ce for birds.

    "Let me tell you about these mealworms¡­"

    Pu Aihua was about to exin the breeding methods for mealworms to Chen Fei when he was suddenly interrupted.

    "Are you Pu Aihua?"

    Who?!

    Pu Aihua and Chen Fei simultaneously turned their heads to look in the direction of the noise.

    "Who are you guys? What do you want, why are you looking for me?"

    The dubious merchant scrutinized the two men in ck suits wearing sunsses, feeling a chill in his heart.

    Chen Fei frowned, their attire seemed familiar.

    One of the men in ck suits with sunsses spoke expressionlessly, "Come with us!"

    "Come where? What do you want?"

    Not until the men revealed handcuffs did Pu Aihua truly panic.

    These unwee guests had ominous intentions.

    "Don''t move!"

    The other man flicked his hand, revealing a baton that crackled with sparks at the tip.

    "Hey! What do you want?"

    Chen Fei put down the technical manual he was holding; he had a bad feeling about these two men.

    "This is our 911''s¡­ Ah, kid, you dare¡­ Ah!"

    Pu Aihua, of course, wasn''t going to let himself be captured without a fight. As soon as one grabbed his arm and he tried to wriggle free, he was immediately knocked to the ground with a punch.

    The man in ck who threw the punch acted decisively and fiercely, causing Pu Aihua''s mouth to bleed immediately.

    The sparking baton followed swiftly, striking him. He convulsed, his body stiffened, and he could no longer move.

    Not far away, members of the Combat Flight Squadron, usually on standby in the hangar, heard the disturbance and looked over.

    "Chen Fei, this doesn''t concern you."

    The man who knocked over Pu Aihua seemed to recognize Chen Fei and called him by name.

    The man holding the baton then took out a booklet of credentials, showing them to Chen Fei and the pilots who were attempting to approach.

    "Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

    Chen Fei blurted out in surprise.

    The color and pattern on the cover of the credentials were not unfamiliar to him.

    Thest time he saw them was on the International Medical Ship, and unexpectedly, they had now tracked him down to the 911 Aircrew Base.

    Hearing Chen Fei mention the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the pilots slowed their approach, exchanging uneasy nces, feeling a sense of foreboding.

    The Ministry of Internal Affairs was a supervisory department of Apocalypse Defense at a higher level than the security department, reporting directly to the board of directors.

    No one had expected that people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs would suddenly show up here and personally take control of a kitchen helper.

    Could this helper be a spy?

    Everyone couldn''t help feeling wary.

    These were dangerous waters to tread, and even a pilot softly warned Chen Fei not to act rashly.

    "Rookie, don''t mess around; the Ministry of Internal Affairs has extensive authority," one said.

    "Keep your distance from that guy, don''t bring trouble upon yourself."

    "Ministry of Internal Affairs? Damn it! What have I done for you to arrest me? It''s unjust!" Pu Aihua shouted, his mouth bloodied. He was just doing a bit of business; was it really necessary for someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to apprehend him personally?

    The man from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who had shown his credentials to warn the crowd, tucked his small blue book away and said to Pu Aihua, who was still iming his innocence even in handcuffs, "What have you been up totely? Don''t you have a clue yourself?"

    "What could I possibly be up to..."

    Pu Aihua suddenly felt guilty and stole a nce at Chen Fei.

    His sneaky behavior recently had indeed been a little taboo, but he never imagined that it would bring someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to his doorstep.

    Seeing Chen Fei''s reaction, it probably wasn''t this young man who had leaked the information.

    "Who dares mess with our people!"

    The burly mechanic leader, Xiao Ming, came to Chen Fei''s side, crowbar in hand, his expression both serious and earnest, indicating he was not joking.

    Having already been deeply upset when Chekhov, the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron, took away Chen Feist time, he was determined not to allow it to happen again, even if it was the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    With the head of the mechanics crew having spoken up, the on-duty mechanics stood silently behind Xiao Ming and Chen Fei, ring menacingly at the two men from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    Even if it was the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they would still carry on with their repairs.

    Mechanics were just that awesome!

    The scene fell into silence, and the lead of a stun baton sparkled briefly with electrical light, then the flickering died away.

    The two men in ck suits wearing sunsses looked at each other, then quickly lifted Pu Aihua, who was still immobilized, and swiftly stepped back a few paces, fearing any misunderstanding.

    After all, the other side had overwhelming numbers; it was two against many, and they didn''t want to end up staying here without bringing the man back.

    "Our target is Pu Aihua, not including Chen Fei," one of them said.

    If they didn''t rify this, the situation might well spiral out of control.

    Even the ultra-authoritative Ministry of Internal Affairs didn''t dare to act recklessly within thepany; they were still subject to the restraint of the board and wouldn''t take unnecessary actions.

    "Hmph!"

    Xiao Ming, the mechanic leader, immediately eased a bit, simply lowering the crowbar in his hand instead of holding it across his chest.

    The other mechanics slowly stepped back, returning to their positions, and carried on with their work as if nothing had happened.

    The tense atmosphere quietly dissipated.

    The two men in ck suits escorting Pu Aihua sighed in relief, and so did everyone else.

    Everyone feared that these silent and stoic mechanics might do something rash, viewing life and death lightly and acting on defiance alone.

    As the two Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel were preparing to take Pu Aihua away, Chen Fei suddenly said, "Can I ask where you are taking him?"

    The two men in ck suits looked at each other, and the one who had exined earlier said, "We are just following thepany''s orders, we are not clear on the specifics."

    If it weren''t for the inappropriate situation, he probably would''ve dismissed them with "It''s apany secret, not to be disclosed," and if pressed further, they''d just cuff and take away the inquirer, ensuring no one dared to speak up.

    Now, seeing it from the face of the mechanic leader beside Chen Fei, they gave a bit more exnation.

    "Little Chen, save me!"

    Pu Aihua looked at Chen Fei with pleading eyes, desperately seeing him as a lifeline.

    Whether it was a subsidiary or the headquarters of the Apocalypse Defense Group, every department regarded the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a dire threat to be avoided at all costs. What good coulde to a mere kitchen helper in the hands of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?

    He was probably doomed!

    "Don''t be rash!"

    Even though willing to stand up for Chen Fei, mechanic leader Xiao Ming did not want to confront the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly.

    He was just the head of the mechanics group at Aircrew Base 911, neither his rank nor his authority were nearly enough to contend against the will of the board.

    Chen Fei pursed his lips, helplessly saying, "Sorry! Old Piao, you''d better tell the truth and cooperate with them. If it''s just a misunderstanding, they should let you go."

    He of course understood the mechanic leader''s good intentions.

    A newbie who had not been on the job long, with no power, no connections, and still owing money to thepany, had nothing to use against thepany''s special department.

    Despite some engagement with this deceitful merchant, friendship aside, in the face ofpany regtions, all friendships were worthless. Even if he wanted to help, he was still powerless.

    If the other party had indeed done something illegal or against the rules, recklessly sticking to loyalties could just bring disaster upon himself, a loss far outweighing any gain.

    -

 Chapter 24: Section 24 - Going Out

    Upon hearing Chen Fei''s words, Pu Aihua''s eyes immediately dimmed, and he cried out in a loud, despairing wail.

    "I am innocent, I am innocent, unjustly used, such injustice..."

    However, the two men in ck suits from the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not hesitate to escort him out of the hangar, fearing that if they dyed, something untoward might ur.

    As Chen Fei watched Old Piao being taken away, his cart remained there; he felt someone pat his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the mechanic, Xiao Ming, shake his head slightly without saying a word, and then he left with a crowbar in hand.

    Big Brother Xiao was not good atforting others; he was not the type to speak eloquently or incessantly. He preferred expressing his thoughts in this manner.

    It contained two meanings: one was understanding the friendship between Chen Fei and Pu Aihua. After all, Chen had just arrived, and Piao had been the first to connect with him, with many interactions since. Now that trouble had arisen, it was natural to feel sympathetic.

    The other was hoping that Chen Fei would remain calm and not rashly get involved. For Pu Aihua, like a drowning man, was already in disarray. Any misstep not only wouldn''t help but might also drag him down.

    If this businessman were truly faultless or even wronged, the innocent will prove their innocence, and those muddied will remain muddled. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would surely give him an exnation and return him to his post if he was innocent.

    Even though the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not have a good reputation within thepany, even disliked by many, cases of wrongful usations were extremely rare. Once the arrest and interrogation phase was reached, there usually was solid evidence.

    Otherwise, if the Ministry of Internal Affairs were to act arbitrarily without checks, the atmosphere in such arge corporate conglomerate would always be anxious and wholly disordered.

    "Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

    Unaware of any of this, the fledgling continued to cheerfully roll around in its nest.

    -

    Suddenly, personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the headquarters of the corporate conglomerate arriving at the Aircrew Base 911 did not just take canteen assistant Pu Aihua. The businessman was not the first or thest; there were other group''s employees, such as those from the control tower, storerooms, even security staff, totaling up to seven or eight people.

    Many were terrified to go to and from work, fearing that at any moment they too could be handcuffed and dragged away from their posts.

    As people were continually arrested, the Aircrew Base 911 inevitably plunged into a state of anxiety, filled with unease and even affecting normal operations, with frequent incidents urring.

    The executive manager, Morris Morgan, whose head was as big as a bucket, had no choice but to order the group leaders of each department to stabilize the workforce,manding all employees not to engage in any rash actions, to wait for the investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conclude, so as not to cause any uncontroble situations.

    With the mechanic, Xiao Ming, in charge of the mechanic team and the mechanics being men of few words, focused only on their tasks, it actually became the quietest unit within the base. This allowed Chen Fei, who was initially somewhat uneasy, to feel more at ease as well.

    In fact, he thought there was nothing to worry about. As a new employee with "no three things," he had spent nearly half his time lying in a hospital bed on sick leave. Returning to the Aircrew Base from eight in the morning to nine in the evening, never venturing beyond the gate or stepping out the door, what trouble could possibly involve him?

    This was probably why the mechanic head, Big Brother Xiao, was willing to vouch for Chen Fei.

    Although Pu Aihua was taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he had still managed to bring Chen Fei the things he needed most urgently.

    Having received enough chick feed and mealworms, Chen Fei decided to change up the diet for the fledgling. After all, egg yolk was only suitable as a temporary food, and long-term feeding was not conducive to the fledgling''s normal growth. Both the professional feed and mealworms were nutritionally moreplete.

    To his surprise, the fledgling, ustomed to eating egg yolk, showed no resistance to the feed that looked like concocted granules of medicinal herb or to the wriggling live mealworms.

    This little glutton would eat anything given, without a hint of unfamiliarity or difort. It would devour at least four or five mealworms in one sitting and still peck at Chen Fei''s fingers, hoping for more¡ªa real little greedy guts.

    But Chen Fei did not indulge it. Chef Abel had taught him from his experience that fledglings, if overfed, could easily harm themselves.

    Three days after businessman Pu Aihua had been taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Chen Fei had a rare day off.

    Not just him, the entire mechanic team finally ended their hectic round-the-clock shifts, allowing them a moment to breathe.

    After the battle with the Metallic Dragons, besides the two Z-9 armed helicopters, Aircrew Base had only four A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft left, slightly damaged to varying degrees.

    Though the requiredbor hours were substantial, with so few nes, the maintenance team could at least allocate two people for each one¡ªfar easier than handling six fully equipped aircraft.

    Having finally reached a rare day off, Chen Fei didn''t n to continue cooping up in his dormitory, burying his head in technical manuals. Learning needed a bnce of exertion and rxation, and when it was time to rx, it was crucial to take that time.

    He borrowed a pistol for self-defense from the security team, entrusted the clingy fledgling to Chef Abel at the cafeteria, then packed some things, shouldered his backpack, and prepared to leave Aircrew Base for the nearby Patan Vige School. It was a good chance to return the Type 95 automatic rifle he had borrowedst time and bring some gifts to express his thanks.

    As he walked out of Aircrew Base''s main gate, he saw a noisy group approaching, armed with guns and leading dogs.

    Leading them was Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron, now wearing a cap covering arge Band-Aid, no longer with his arm in a sling, shaking his head as he walked¡ªhis robust recovery evident, reminiscent of a bear''s.

    When he spotted Chen Fei, he immediately started waving from afar.

    "Rookie! Where are you off to alone? There''s a band of ouws nearby, not very safe. How about we apany you? We can have a barbecue together; we''ve got plenty of game!"

    With the four turboprop aircraft still under maintenance and unable to fulfill daily patrol duties, relying just on those two Z-9 armed helicopters was indeed insufficient. Since no newbat aircraft had been supplied, the grounded Combat Flight Squadron was effectively left unrestrained.

    Taking advantage of this lull, Major Chekhov led a part of the bored pilots and personnel from other units into the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range for a hunting expedition,bining sightseeing with hunting.

    Guns and dogs made the hunting more fruitful, and with a mortar at hand, they freely roamed the mountains.

    This group wasn''t just hunting; it was more akin to a massacre, with even the most dangerous wolves and leopards in the mountains staying well away.

    Big Bear boasted proudly of their gains from the days spent hunting in the wilderness, his arm just healed enough to handle a gun. For perspective, another pilot, "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown, was still wheelchair-bound, needing at least another month before he could walk.

    One wolf, a dozen wild chickens, two rams ¡ª all hung upside down, bled out, eviscerated, then treated with coarse salt and Sichuan peppercorn, prepared to be dried or smoked, serving as an additional dish for theing period.

    If they decided to switch to barbecue, it would be equally excellent.

    Unfortunately, there were no rabbits; the mountain bunnies were trickier than foxes, darting into burrows at the slightest rustle, only catchable by eagles and old foxes, or perhaps only with tear gas or cloud bombs to flush them out.

    Using tear gas was one thing, but cloud bombs... resorting to such drastic measures for a rabbit, as if cloud bombs were cheap, was utterly insane!

    Might as well use a Forbidden Curse, raze a mountain, and get everything.

    Now, having received news that the four "Big Mouth Monsters" had been repaired, this group finally returned after wreaking havoc far and wide.

    "No need, I''m just going to visit a fellow viger nearby, not far, and return a gun!"

    Chen Fei patted the Type 95 automatic rifle slung behind him, his pocket filled with two magazines loaded with bullets.

    Shen Fei''s school wasn''t far from Aircrew Base, just a three and a half-hour walk. If he quickened his pace, he could reduce the time even more.

    Major Chekhov, warm-hearted, asked, "Are you sure that''s safe?"

    After all, they had gone through dragon-ying together, a bond forged in the heat of battle.

    "Absolutely no problem; I also have signal res."

    Chen Fei then pulled out three "Small Batons" issued by the security team for self-defense, a standard twin set for going out.

    Just twist off the cap at one end of the "Small Baton," pull out the safety pin, aim at the sky, and press theunch button. Three secondster, three red signal res would shoot into the air, reaching a height of about 80 meters, each firing a wireless signal every five seconds for 12 hours.

    These could be received bynd-based antennas and search helicopters to pinpoint and initiate a fullymitted rescue operation immediately.

    -

 Chapter 25: Section 25 - Returning the Gun

    It wasn''t just Chekhov, everyone at Aircrew Base recognized this type of dual-mode handheld signal re.

    Pilots and ground personnel might both need it; it was an essential item for saving lives.

    Once a distress signal was spotted, Aircrew Base''s Z-9 armed helicopters would take off fully armed and then carry out search-and-rescue procedures.

    If the person sending out the distress signal was alive and under attack, then Option A would be executed: first, a rocket barrage to clear the area, then the use of airborne machine guns to eliminate any stragglers, security team members would rappel down for a cleanup, and finally, the helicopter wouldnd to rescue the person in distress.

    If the person sending out the distress signal had died, then Option B would be initiated: a rocket barrage followed by machine-gun fire to cover any gaps, emptying all carried ammunition, while simultaneously calling in attack aircraft for additional rocket and heavy cruise missile barrages until all enemy targets on the ground were annihted, avenging the fallen.

    Bullshit about a gentleman seeking revenge after ten years; that''s not the case here. A gentleman repays kindness with kindness and enmity with directness; revenge is taken on the spot, and with eighteen legs, escape from an aerial strike is impossible. If one attack aircraft can''t solve the problem, then deploy two; if two aren''t enough, send four.

    There''s no ground force that a Combat Flight Squadron can''t take care of.

    "Here, take this with you, and return it to me when you''re back!"

    Perhaps feeling that the weapons Chen Fei was carrying were too light, Chekhov directly handed over his own gun and an extra magazine.

    It was a ssic AK-47, an original product from the days of the former Soviet Union, from the most authentic factory over two hundred years old, the Izhevsk Armory, with its serial number still clearly stamped, certainly not one of those random fake goods you could find in the hands of nearby mountain vigers.

    Such a valuable antique was priceless; to use it for hunting was an utter waste.

    The 7.62mm caliber bullets would create a hole as big as a bowl in the prey, and with smaller game like pheasants, there would probably be nothing left but a pile of unrecognizable minced meat and feathers.

    For creatures with tougher hide like wild boars, it was usually a one-shot deal.

    Any terrestrial creature that couldn''t be brought down with one shot would get two.

    "Really, no need!"

    Chen Fei showed a troubled expression; he wasn''tcking in guns.

    Carrying one rifle was already heavy enough. Adding another, and a pistol from before, those unaware would think he was off to seek revenge on someone!

    Or perhaps that he had lost his mind, taking on a weighted cross-country hike in the wilderness.

    "If you don''t ept it, you''re not giving me, Chekhov, face!"

    Chekhov started rolling up his sleeves and clenching his fists, which cracked ominously.

    His stance was clear: you don''t give me face, you won''t get good treatment.

    The Big Bear was simply unreasonable, with others joining in on the unruly encouragement.

    "Take a heavy machine gun too, and I guarantee those bandits will stay clear of you."

    "Do you want an anti-infantry directional mine? Great for clearing an area!"

    "A grenadeuncher is even more convenient, capable of rapid firing unmatched."

    Birds of a feather flock together; those who would go hunting with Chekhov for days without returning were a bunch of bored and idle troublemakers.

    Just think about it, setting up an anti-infantry directional mine near a rabbit burrow, it didn''t matter how clever the rabbits were, the moment they showed their heads, they''d be remotely detonated.

    After a boom, not even a rabbit hair would be left.

    Do you call that hunting?

    Hello, 911? There''s just been a mass extermination here; a family of rabbits, spanning ten generations, over three hundred in number...

    As for the heavy machine guns and grenadeunchers, not just the bandits, even the locals would be scared witless at the sight.

    Facing such enthusiasm, Chen Fei surrendered meekly and repeatedly waved his hands in refusal. If he carried a few guns and backed up with an anti-infantry directional mine, he was afraid he wouldn''t be mistaken for seeking revenge, but rather as an arms dealer.

    But his original intention was just to pay a visit to a fellow viger; he had no thoughts of setting up a little stall to sell arms and ammunition!

    After a lot of persuasion and declining others'' kindness, Chen Fei had no choice but to ept the AK-47 and magazine that Big Bear forcefully passed to him, which equated to an extra useless weight of over twelve pounds.

    This gun, nearly a hundred years old, had undergone anti-corrosion treatment yet the birchwood stock was still slightly ckened, as if coated with ayer of varnish. It was not only capable of firing but also of smooth rapid-fire.

    If those bandits saw it, they might find the gun to be more profitable than robbing money.

    Withoutparison, there is no harm.

    Big Bear, with a stature like his namesake, patted Chen Fei, who seemed as slight as a bean sprout byparison, and said, "Oh, and one more thing! The ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron is looking to recruit pilots, internal staff get priority, and I''ve signed you up!"

    His partner, codenamed "Lemongrass" Basong, was unlucky; he didn''t manage to take off before the Metallic Dragons attacked and was killed on the spot. They definitely needed a jet fighter wingman and a turboprop attack aircraft fire control operator.

    Familiar faces are better than new ones; Chekhov had his eyes on the very lucky Chen Fei, who took down the Dragon of ughter on his first attempt. With that kind of luck, nobody couldpare with him, all the while pretending it was for Chen Fei''s own good.

    "Ah?! Hey, hey, hey, I don''t want to sign up! Don''te to me!"

    Chen Fei was a mess in the wind, ever since his close call the first time, which nearly cost him his life, he hadn''t dared to set foot on a turboprop aircraft again.

    Now, just looking at the cockpit made him feel weak at the knees.

    Why be a pilot when you can be a happy mechanic? Isn''t that just as "Genuine Fragrance"?

    "That settles it, Rookie!"

    Ignoring Chen Fei''s protestpletely, Big Bear called out cheerfully and his band of merry friends carried their prey, howling ghostlike and wolfishly, into the Aircrew Base 911.

    Wasn''t the Combat Flight Squadron at Aircrew Base 911 the epitome of "Genuine Fragrance"?

    Genuine Fragrance!

    "Chekhov, you son of a *bitch*!"

    Chen Fei was so angry that he couldn''t hold back any longer and flipped off the retreating figures.

    The squadron leader of the Combat Flight Squadron had ears that were sharp as a fox''s. He seemed to have heard from afar and raised his hand to make a V-sign.

    -

    Turning his anger into strides, he stomped all the way andpleted the three and a half-hour walk in just two and a half hours.

    Close to noon, Chen Fei could see from a distance the yard made of stones and cement. The sound of reading aloud carried on the wind, sounding exceptionally pleasing to the ear.

    He didn''t n to disturb them at this time and decided to stand at the entrance for a while, waiting for the ss to end.

    But to his surprise, just as he approached, a dog suddenly shot out of the yard. It barked loudly from behind the fence, making lunging motions.

    Chen Fei was startled; he hadn''t noticed a dog in the yard on hisst visit.

    Hearing the dog barking inside the yard, the reading paused, then resumed.

    A door of a house opened, and a young girl peeked out.

    "Who is it?"

    "Teacher Shen, it''s me, Chen Fei!"

    Chen Fei replied in a hurry.

    Being watched intently by that big yellow dog inside the fence, he felt apprehensive, afraid it might suddenlye lunging at him.

    "Eh? Chen Fei, what brings you here?"

    The local teacher, Shen Fei, sounded surprised.

    Since there were no civilian mobilemunication base stations nearby, there was no signal for mobile phones here. Dailymunication depended totally on delivering messages by foot or with notes, or else shouting across the ravine, which exins why Chen Fei arrived unannounced¡ªit was impossible for him to inform Shen Fei in advance.

    "I came to return the pistol and also brought you some stuff."

    Chen Fei quickly took the Type 95 automatic rifle from his back.

    The little peach wood fish on the gun sight was still hanging there, and on the back and forth journey, he hadn''t encountered the rumored bandits, not even a rabbit, so naturally, there was no use for it.

    "I''m not in a hurry to use it, it''s okay to leave it with you for a while. Now that you''re here, why did you bring things!" Shen Fei said as she stepped forward in big strides, nudging the noisy big yellow dog behind the fence with a light kick, and scolded sharply.

    "Ah Hu, stop barking and go away."

    "Whine!~~~"

    The big yellow dog whimpered and stopped barking, tucking its tail and obediently scampered off.

    "Did it startle you?"

    Shen Fei opened the door for Chen Fei and let him in.

    "No harm done, just a bit of a surprise, oh, there''s another dog here."

    Chen Fei shook his head, about to say something, but then he suddenly saw beside the fence gate, *damn*!

    In the corner position, a ck dog with droopy ears and a lean body was staring intently at him, silent as a stone.

    The dog''s gaze was somewhat sinister, seemingly aimed at his lower body, causing him to instinctively shrink back, his sweat breaking out and hairs standing on end.

    The ones that bite don''t bark, those that bark don''t bite¡ªwho would have thought that there''d be another dog in this yard, lying in ambush? If someone with ill intentions broke in, they''d probably be taken byplete surprise by this Big ck dog''s bite.

    -

 Chapter 26: Section 26 - Shen Feis Elementary School

    Following Chen Fei''s gaze, Shen Fei couldn''t help but giggle and said, "Last time, you didn''t see them in the backyard, but don''t worry, that''s ''Ah Mao,'' a Shan Yang fine dog.

    It''s supposed to look like this, a genuine watchdog, and very obedient, unlike Ah Hu, just a useless mutt, clumsy and foolish, only knows how to bark, and is very timid, good-looking but useless." After finishing, she gestured to the lean ck dog lying in the corner of the wall.

    Only then did the ck dog stand up, wagging its slender tail, and came over to Shen Fei, allowing her to stroke its head and scratch its chin, all while still gazing silently at Chen Fei.

    "Come, ''Ah Mao,'' this is my friend, Chen Fei. Let''s get to know each other, now say ''hello.''"

    Shen Fei picked up the ck dog''s paw and waved it toward Chen Fei, with a beaming smile.

    Asking a dog to speak humannguage is really too hard for the dog.

    The Shan Yang fine dog "Ah Mao" wisely continued to maintain its silent dog facade.

    "Hey, hello, ''Ah Mao.''"

    Though Chen Fei felt a bit uneasy, he still mustered up the courage and lifted his hand to wave at the ck dog.

    But petting the dog''s head? He wouldn''t dare.

    This viger had a really capricious way of naming dogs, calling the fiercest biter "Ah Mao" and the wimpiest one "Ah Hu," utterly misleading.

    Only then did the ck dog slightly rx, sticking out its crimson tongue to lick Shen Fei''s hand, its slender tail looking nothing like the fluffy tail of a dog, but somewhat more like a cat''s, which might be the origin of the name "Ah Mao."

    As one of the native dog breeds that had performed guarding and hunting duties for thousands of years, it wasn''t the kind of foolish dog that wouldn''t even bark at a stranger walking inside out. Despite looking lean and gaunt, it bes quite terrifying once enraged, as fine dogs weren''t known for a good temperament in watchdogs.

    But as a ins breed, in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, it was a bit difficult to y to its strengths.

    Shen Fei never thought of taking the Shan Yang fine dog "Ah Mao" out hunting; after all, hunting was harsh on dogs, and casualties were inevitable. With only these two dogs, she really couldn''t afford to be extravagant.

    "Woo!~"

    Therge yellow dog squatting not far away licked its lips, green with envy.

    It wasn''t a Shan Yang fine dog, but the mostmon field dog, one of the six livestock traditionally used for sacrifices to heaven, a traditional source of meat, and even worse off than the fine dog.

    Finally, Shen Fei let go of the innocent ck dog "Ah Mao," pped her hands, stood up, and said to Chen Fei, "Alright, next time youe, they''ll recognize you. Come on, I''ll take you inside to sit."

    "Ah, okay. I hope I''m not interrupting your ss, am I?"

    Chen Fei felt somewhat embarrassed.

    He followed behind Shen Fei, asionally looking back uneasily.

    The ck dog "Ah Mao" went back to its spot by the fence gate,zily lying down again and closing its eyes to continue dozing. In contrast, the yellow dog "Ah Hu" kept wagging its tail, circling around Shen Fei, and sometimes following Chen Fei, sniffing at his heels, the very image of an eager-to-please employee revealed without a doubt.

    "Go on, ''Ah Hu,'' go y over there!"

    Shen Fei asionally shooed away the overly clingy yellow dog with impatience.

    Thergest house in the courtyard, which also served as the school''s main ssroom, housed all six grades ¡ª over sixty students ¡ª crammed together for lessons.

    There was really no helping it. In this small school located in the wild mountains, Shen Fei was the only teacher, having to shoulder all the work alone.

    Unless she had the Multiplicity Technique, it was impossible to separate the sses by grade and ssrooms; building that many rooms wasn''t feasible with neither the materials nor the funds, so everything had to bebined into one spot to be manageable.

    Even though it was hard for one person to teach six grades and so many students simultaneously, Shen Fei had her little helpers. She organized the top students and promoted them to be ss leaders to guide everyone, getting all their studies on track.

    The ss leaders of the six grades had great authority among the students, and with their help in management, the sixty-plus students didn''t give Shen Fei too much of a headache.

    Shen Fei first returned to the main ssroom to give a few instructions to the ss leaders of each grade, and then she escorted Chen Fei to her own dormitory.

    The clear sound of reading aloud once again filled the air, mainlying from the lower grades, while the upper grades were busy with practice questions. As long as they focused, they wouldn''t disturb each other, and in a way, it was also a form of training.

    "Shen Fei, will this be too much of a disturbance for you?"

    Chen Fei felt a bit embarrassed since the other party was still teaching a ss.

    "It''s okay. The kids are very well-behaved, and my ce is quite basic, so just make yourselffortable,"

    Shen Fei said with a smile, shaking her head as she opened the door to her dormitory for Chen Fei.

    "Where should I put this?"

    After entering the room, Chen Fei nced around. Thest time he came here, he had been in a hurry to report to the 911 Aircrew Base and hadn''t entered the room. He''d only taken a quick look around the courtyard outside.

    The room wasn''t very big, just over thirty square meters, and there wasn''t much inside. The furnishings were simple: a steel and wood table and chairs, a steel-frame wardrobe, and a square pipe bookshelf. The only somewhat substantial piece of furniture was a solid wood five-drawer chest with a mottled surface, which looked quite aged.

    The floor wasid with natural stone bs, sourced locally. They were carefully fitted together. Usually kept very clean, the stone surface shone with a glossy sheen, like jade.

    There were also some electrical appliances, but only the basic ones like light tubes, an electric fan, a deskmp, an electric heating desk mat, and a humidifier. These were powered by the sr panels, wind turbines, and battery storage on the roof, and it seemed they couldn''t store much electric energy.

    The most eye-catching feature was the fire-kang against the wall, which could fit five or six people. It was very primitive but practical. One end was used for lighting fires, which not only provided warmth but also doubled as a stove, making it an invaluable asset for surviving the cold winter.

    Next to it was arge stone-raised water tank holding more than half a tank of clear water, probably weighing at least 400 to 500 pounds. It was connected to a water pipe with a faucet and a washbasin. The drainage outlet led to a stainless steel bucket; presumably, the wastewater was repurposed and not simply discarded.

    Shen Fei poured Chen Fei some water from the thermos and said, "Just put it on the kang. You''ve seen a fire-kang before, haven''t you?"

    Nowadays, with the prevalence of air conditioning, underfloor heating, oil radiators, hot air blowers, electric nkets, and even oil stoves, heating devices that relied purely on fuel like the traditional soil stove and fire-kang remained only in stories, found in descriptions and picture albums.

    "I''ve heard of it, but this is the first time I''ve seen one."

    Chen Fei ced the Type 95 automatic rifle on the fire-kang, then ced the ancient AK-47 and the magazines that Big Bear Chekhov had forced on him alongside it. Feeling suddenly relieved of the weight, he then began to take more things out of his backpack.

    "Teacher Shen, I''ve brought you a few pounds of vital wheat gluten powder, as well as some powdered sugar and dried yeast."

    Vital wheat gluten powder, also known as gluten flour, is the ''muscle'' of flour. It can be mixed into regr flour to transform it into bread flour, making the bread that is baked fluffy and well-formed. Sugar and yeast are both essential ingredients for baking bread. Chen Fei knew Shen Fei enjoyed baking, so he had specifically consulted Chef Abel of the cafeteria.

    These ingredients also came from the cafeteria.

    "Wow, Chen Fei, that''s so thoughtful of you. I was just needing these. Thank you! How much did it all cost?"

    Shen Fei''s smile beamed with delight as she went to look for her wallet.

    The most important was the vital wheat gluten powder. Regr flour is fine for making buns and pancakes, but a bitcking for bread. With so much gluten powder, she could upgrade a lot of regr flour and use it for a long time. If used alone to make gluten, it also tasted excellent.

    The powdered sugar and yeast were also used in small amounts each time and wouldst a long time.

    Seeing Shen Fei looking for her wallet, Chen Fei, not wanting to ept her money, quickly said, "No need. It wasn''t much money anyway, and you gave me so much breadst time."

    He spoke the truth; he had carried all these items over, and Chef Abel had only charged him the cost price. So, in total, they cost about a hundred yuan, not a significant amount.

    "Alright then, I''ll take it without any pretense. But you must eat lunch here at my ce. I''ll show you what I can do."

    Shen Fei didn''t y coy and set down her wallet.

    "Yes, please! The two main chefs at the 911 Aircrew Base are just heretics¡ªone makes nothing but soupy dishes, grilled meat, and sausages all day, and their bread is hard enough to be used as bludgeons. The other one is even worse, only knows how to unpack frozen food. Oh, and by the way, I heard there''s a new gang of bandits around here. Teacher Shen, you need to be careful."

    The Patan people''s vige was the only ce within a ten-mile radius. Other than returning to the 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei had nowhere else to go, so he had every right to stick around for a free meal.

    "Hahaha, I''ve known about it for a while now, and it''s all to save money, you know. Qualified chefs don''te cheap! The bandits in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range are as numerous as hairs on a bull. Theye today, gone tomorrow. They might be chased off by the local bandits very soon. Let me put away my gun first, and then I''ll tell you more.

    Huh? AK? This is... an AK-47? My god! Chen Fei, where did you get an AK-47?

    It''s in such good condition and all the internal stress has been released. There''s no deformation. It''s definitely a gem. Where did you find it? Did you rob The Kremlin? Is it a gift for me?

    Uh, this is too valuable!"

    Approaching the fire pit to properly store her Type 95 automatic rifle, Shen Fei couldn''t help but exim when she saw the other rifle beside it.

    -

 Chapter 27: Section 27 - DOS System

    Shen Fei had turned out to be a gun enthusiast, so it was no wonder she chose the user-friendly Type 95 automatic rifle as her self-defense weapon.

    Chen Fei immediately exined, "Don''t get the wrong idea, this isn''t mine. It''s a gun Major Chekhov lent me for self-defense. He''s the squadron leader of the Combat Flight Squadron."

    Such an expensive antique gun, probably worth around two to three million Star Yuan, was beyond his means to gift.

    "Genuine Fragrance Squadron''s Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov¡ªyes, I know him. To think that this big guy weighing over two hundred pounds would have such a fine piece, a legendary firearm indeed! I see now, this AK isn''t just for self-defense; he lent it to you for show-off, I''m impressed."

    Shen Fei''s eyes lit up as she cradled the AK-47 automatic rifle, gently caressing it inch by inch.

    Although Chekhov recklessly used it for hunting, the everyday maintenance of this AK-47 was impable.

    The smooth, delicate patina was not only on the wooden stock and handguard but also on the surface of the metal, a thinyer not of the oily kind used for rust protection, offering an excellent touch which made it easy to find the right grip, thus facilitating better control and shooting.

    In a certain sense, this old gun seemed almost to have its own soul, iparable to a brand-new firearm still reeking of residual smoke and gunpowder.

    Clutching the still-excellent-performing AK-47 automatic rifle, Shen Fei was extremely reluctant to put it down, continuously expressing her admiration.

    "Great gun, great gun, the feel is just amazing!"

    It was really hard to imagine that a young woman, determined to devote herself to elementary education in remote, turbulent areas and who liked to bake bread to share with others, could have such a great interest in firearms.

    Seeing teacher Shen Fei''s fascination with the AK-47 automatic rifle, Chen Fei''s gaze involuntarily fell on her neck, bing somewhat entranced there.

    The harsh conditions and tough environment hadn''t made her slender neck rough or yellowed; it remained fair and tender, likely very pleasant to the touch¡ªif one were to choke it tightly, water might be squeezed out, and continuing for five minutes could send this kind-hearted teacher to meet King Yama!

    ...

    Wait a minute! What kind of horrifying thought was that!

    Chen Fei shuddered involuntarily, snapping back to his senses.

    Only then did he realize his hands were clenched in fists, and his leg muscles were tense, ready to pounce at any moment to put that inexplicable sinister thought into action.

    What was happening to him? Recently, he asionally had these malevolent thoughts, which he had never experienced before¡ªsomething was seriously wrong, very wrong.

    Chen Fei was frightened into a cold sweat by his own terrifying thoughts.

    Possibly sensing the malicious re, Shen Fei looked over in confusion and noticed Chen Fei''s expression was a bit off. She asked, "Chen Fei, what''s wrong with you?"

    "Er... nothing, just having some issues with my eyestely."

    A lie needed more lies to cover it, so Chen Fei opted for the truth, albeit changing the subject.

    Shen Fei reluctantly set down the AK-47 automatic rifle and asked with concern, "Your eyes? Is your vision getting worse, or did the wind blow sand into them?"

    "No, no, none of those. I''ve been seeing a lot of strange characterstely; the doctor calls it ''Phantosmia,'' a type of visual hallucination. They still haven''t found the cause, so I was wondering whether some high-tech alien civilization has imnted something in my eyes."

    Chen Fei also used this topic to bring his attention back, as it wasn''t the right time to talk about his recent brush with death.

    The medical team at Aircrew Base couldn''t find anything wrong, nor could the more skilled International Medical Ship. He had pretty much given up on seeking treatment from other hospitals.

    Fortunately, the characters produced by the "Phantosmia" were somewhat transparent, causing only some visual inconvenience and notpletely obstructing his view.

    Chen Fei''s particrly troubled expression made Shen Fei almost want tough. She covered her mouth and said, "A third kind encounter? Then again, the humans of the Cangqiong Realm are also aliens; their is Cangqiong Star."

    "Who knows? I assure you I''ve never seen a UFO, nor have I ever encountered any unknown aliens."

    Chen Fei spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders, uncertain if Magic Medicine counted.

    Shen Fei asked curiously, "Then what did you see?"

    "It''s rows of text, like error messages saying ''Unrecognized valid CPU type, running memory self-check failed, no input/output device found'', ending with a bunch of ''illegal operation or incorrectmand'' stuff like that."

    Chen Fei read through the "Phantosmia" characters that shed before his eyes again.

    He couldn''t understand what they meant at all.

    Shen Fei blinked her eyes, surprised, and said, "Huh? It feels like the error message that pops up after aputer system fails to boot."

    Unless it was a hardware failure, personalputers nowadays rarely encountered issues, especially since cloud terminal and hardware technologies had be prevalent in recent years. Users just had to open them and start using; everything else, including system security and cache cleaning, was taken care of by cloud services.

    With the help of cloud AI, operation methods had be increasingly simple¡ªeven cats and dogs could use them without barriers. Upgrading to a more powerfulputing performance with hardware eleration services was also easy; one could simply pay for a more advanced cloud hardware eleration package and get it done in one go, significantly saving the cost of physical hardware upgrades.

    If there was any downside, it would probably be the requirement to stay online. Special high-efficiencymunication algorithms ensured that it didn''t take up too much bandwidth. In cities and towns, as long as there was a wirelessmunication base nearby, there would be no problem with the stability and speed ofwork connections.

    Moreover, Chen Fei and Shen Fei''s homnd had achievedprehensivework signal coverage with no dead zones as early as forty years ago. From the Snow Mountain Summit to the Desert Gobi, and then to the depths of the Primeval Forest, any remote ce could get a sufficiently strong publicwork signal, ensuring the widespread application of cloud technology.

    The leading superpower of the world, its national strength was indeed unmatchable.

    "What, what? Aputer system? How could that still be a thing?"

    Chen Fei was dumbfounded; he found it hard to imagine that he had "phantosmically" envisioned aputer malfunction, which was utterly inconceivable.

    Should he eat a CPU to make the "cannot recognize valid CPU type" message disappear, devour a few memory sticks to seed in memory self-test, and then plug in a keyboard touchpad to himself...

    But then came the question: where should he plug it in?

    This was very metaphysical!

    "It does sound like it, just don''t know which system it is."

    Shen Fei increasingly affirmed with a nod.

    Chen Fei said helplessly, "I''m not a mechanical being; how could I possibly have aputer system in my brain."

    "That''s why it was diagnosed as ''Phantosmia.''"

    Shen Fei seemed to understand the origin of Chen Fei''s diagnostic result.

    Since he was not a mechanical being, it was defined as "Phantosmia." These character hallucinations were neither fatal nor injurious; they were just annoying, but nheless, they were better than losing one''s sight.

    If it were a mechanical being having this problem, it would be easier to deal with; just reset the system¡ªunless there was a hardware fault, it would recover immediately.

    "My vision is like a subtitle screening, I also don''t know how to treat it to restore normalcy."

    Chen Fei shook his head in distress; he began to miss the time when "Phantosmia" showed only a short sequence of characters, "A:>\\", quietly confined to a corner, barely affecting his vision.

    But he had never expected that after waking up, the characters mysteriously multiplied, clutteringly filling his vision, causing immense frustration.

    "Maybe treating it like aputer system malfunction is an option; just give me a moment."

    Shen Fei went to the bookshelf next to the heated brick bed and started flipping through the booksyer byyer; finally, she forcefully pulled out a book with its damaged cover fixed with now-cloudy transparent adhesive tape, its pages noticeably yellowed, and handed it to Chen Fei.

    "''Introduction to DOS''?"

    Chen Fei read the title on the cover, puzzled.

    What is DOS?

    He had never heard of it.

    "You told me earlier that you saw ''A:>\\'' first; I guess it might be amand line modeputer system. There''s also a more advanced UNIX system mentioned in this book, but I don''t have that kind of book here."

    "Is this book from thest century?"

    Chen Fei looked amazed; he had encountered another antique.

    -

 Chapter 28: Section 28 - Effective Commands

    Shen Fei thought for a moment and said, "The vigers in the nearby vige found it in a dried-up riverbed, a whole iron box full of books, and this is just one of them."

    The all-stainless steel iron box was sealed extremely well. No one knew how many years it had been lying in the riverbed, but the books inside were still in perfect condition, with not even a hint of dampness.

    Chen Fei took the book, and after flipping through a few pages, he was captivated by its contents.

    "Huh? A drive, B drive, the drive letters are almost identical, they really do resemble this DOS system, and themands are in English too."

    This DOS impressed him inexplicably.

    "It''s getting more and more interesting, take your time, I''ll go get lunch ready."

    Seeing that her collection of books might be able to help Chen Fei, Teacher Shen Fei was also very happy. She pped her hands, pushed the door open, and left.

    Most of the students in the school brought their own lunches; there was no need for her to worry about them. Preparing lunch for just Chen Fei was not a hassle.

    "Thesemands..."

    Chen Fei increasingly felt that the primary school teacher''s guess was likely correct.

    But how should he use thesemands?

    For instance, to clear the scrolling lines filling his vision, he should use the "cls"mand, but how should he enter it?

    No sooner had the thought emerged than the lines of repetitive text in front of him suddenly jumped up, and new characters appeared.

    "...New hardware detected, loading drivers, instation sessful, ready to use."

    "A:>\\cls"

    Whoa, it actually worked!!!

    Chen Fei was dumbfounded, it even had voice recognition¡ªso why were there still messages about ''no input/output device detected''? Did he really need to plug in a keyboard and touchpad? That was quite primitive.

    Looking at the book''s publication date, he realized, gee whiz, it was a fifty-year-old antique.

    But what should he do next?

    Where was the Enter key? Or, perhaps, the Confirm button?

    Just as he thought of this, the repetitive text taking up a significant part of his field of vision, "Illegal operation or incorrectmand," vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only a short string of characters in the top left corner, "A:>\\_", with the little dash blinking on and off.

    The world became suddenly clear, as if it had quieted down in an instant.

    The "scrolling text" that had troubled Chen Fei for a long time disappeared altogether, as though he had returned to the initial stages of his "Phantosmia" symptoms.

    Although there was still the little leftover "A:>\\_", it was no longer a hindrance, trivial enough to ignore.

    So, the "cls"mand was effective.

    This was an unexpected delight for Chen Fei; he clutched the "Introduction to DOS" in his hand. Although not many pages, it might well be the remedy for his "Phantosmia."

    However, the next second.

    "Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    ..."

    The screen started filling up line by line again.

    The smile on Chen Fei''s face instantly froze.

    Here we go again...

    His mood had barely improved for a few seconds before the screen cluttered once more.

    (£££þ¡«£þ££) He really felt like cursing.

    He conjured the "cls"mand and then thought "Enter" in his mind, or maybe "Confirm"; it didn''t matter anymore.

    Following the same steps brought rity to his vision once again, letting Chen Fei breathe a sigh of relief. Themand wasn''t a one-time thing, it was reusable and very effective.

    Even though it couldn''t entirely eliminate the "Illegal operation or incorrectmand" messages that kept popping up, it at least gave him a way to clear his vision at any time without having to force himself into a state of all-consuming focus, relying on his subconscious to selectively ignore the distraction.

    He spected that the "scrolling text" he had seen before wasn''t actually static, maybe because every line was identical, it gave the illusion of being motionless.

    The ancient DOS system obviously had moremands than just "cls".

    The "Introduction to DOS" in Chen Fei''s hands naturally recorded the introduction and usage method for allmands.

    He tried to execute anothermand.

    "A:>\\B:"

    "A" stood for the drive letter, which could represent a physical drive or a storage partition.

    Where there''s an A, there''s a B; where there''s a B, there''s a C; where there''s a C, there''s a D¡­ Personalputers often have more than one physical storage device, and more than one storage partition, not to mention those hidden partitions.

    Enter!

    "Illegal operation ormand error"

    It seems there is no B drive, and Chen Fei is currently troubled by only one partition.

    ording to the history of personalputers, both A and B drives were originally reserved for floppy disk drives. Today, floppy drives and disks have disappeared without a trace, only found as disy items in industry museums, never to be used again as a form of ancient storage.

    However, by tradition, drives A and B have been kept reserved by subsequent systems by default. Storage partitions often start from C drive, automatically skipping over A and B at the beginning.

    "B:" Failure, an error message appeared, meaning that apart from "A:>\\" there isn''t a second partition.

    So what exactly is inside this A drive?

    Chen Fei had not held much hope, thinking it didn''t matter if there were dates or not; he would give it a shot first.

    He found amand in "Introduction to DOS" that could disy the contents of the current directory, and "A:>\\" just happened to be the root directory. Perhaps he could also learn about the partition''s capacity.

    "di..."

    Amid a bunch of "Illegal operation ormand error" alerts, before Chen Fei could finish typing, he heard Shen Fei''s voice outside the house.

    "Chen Fei, lunch is ready,e out after washing your hands."

    Lunch?!

    Chen Fei looked down at the health bracelet on his left wrist. It was already twelve o''clock local time. Time really flies; he had unwittingly been reading the book for almost two hours.

    This was a brand-new health bracelet. The one that had apanied Chen Fei for ten years had gone missing in the battle with the Metallic Dragons. He had bought thetest model on the International Medical Ship, and it was reimbursed by the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    Carefully cing the "Introduction to DOS," of which he had flipped through a dozen or so pages, on the steel-wood desk inside the room, he responded loudly, "Coming, I''ll be right there!"

    As soon as he pushed open the door, a waft of food aroma hit him in the face.

    Not far outside the door, a few dishes wereid out on an outdoor rectangr table, with roasted meat, vegetable soup, naan, and small bread. There were also several dishes of appetizers, simple yet abundant.

    There were also six kids sitting around the table with Shen Fei, waiting to eat together.

    "Wow, this looks really good."

    Chen Fei was somewhat surprised. This female teacher had actually managed to prepare such arge spread.

    "Come sit here!"

    Shen Fei pointed to the empty seat next to her and waved to Chen Fei.

    Once he sat down, she continued, "I have a freezer here, quiterge, so I can store a lot of semi-finished products. There''s also a big oven that can roast anything. Try the pickles I made myself¡ªdried radish, sauerkraut, and stir-fried sauerkraut."

    "That''s incredible!"

    Chen Fei gave her a big thumbs up without stint.

    The students around the table immediately started praising their teacher, making Teacher Shen''s cheeks flush red.

    "Teacher Shen is the best."

    "My mom''s cooking isn''t as delicious as Teacher Shen''s."

    "I could lick my te clean, I do it every time."

    "I have never eaten such delicious food in my life. Teacher Shen, when I grow up, I will definitely marry you as my main wife."

    "No way, Teacher Shen is so pretty, she will definitely be my main wife."

    "Pfft, look at yourself, Sprout Student!"

    As they spoke, two little rascals were about to start scuffling right then and there, uttering such oundish wolf and tiger words!

    The children from the mountain vige of Patan matured early and were precocious, with a robust and fierce customs, each acting like a little adult, recklessly imagining the future.

    "Stop, stop, stop, you lot, don''t spout nonsense."

    Shen Fei''s tone became slightly stern, and the kids immediately behaved like quails.

    Chen Fei shook his head with a smile and said, "Still talking about a main wife, how many wives will you guys be able to marry when you grow up?"

    "Four!"

    A big boy immediately raised his hand and then bent one finger, leaving four fingers standing up straight.

    The other kids burst intoughter, with one shouting, "Muzike is getting married next year, he''s already fifteen. His family has already sent two sheep each to the viges to the south and the west, engaging two girls."

    Someone else added, "I know, I know, the girl from the southern vige is Amu, she''s the niece of my aunt, with cheeks like apples."

    Laughter followed once more, the hand-raising big boy''s face turned beet red, yet he stood tall, with a mixture of pride and anticipation.

    -

 Chapter 29: Section 29 - Cultural Export

    "Getting married at such a young age, and taking so many wives?"

    Chen Fei found it hard to believe. Such a thing was simply impossible in his hometown, where the average age for young people to marry was generally over 30.

    But here, by 30, they were already arranging marriages for their children.

    "It''s the local custom. However, marrying at 16 is indeed too young, whether it''s polygyny or polyandry, it''s mainly determined by the living environment. In a few more years, this situation will see a significant decrease. Alright, everyone must be hungry, let''s eat!"

    Shen Fei seemed to have an open mind about it. Customs and habits formed over thousands of years couldn''t be changed overnight. Only by influencing them with civilization could these people be more enlightened with each generation.

    Take an example. If legition prohibited everyone in Chen Fei and Shen Fei''s hometown from eating pork, the next second, heads would roll.

    The children sitting around the table cheered in unison, immediately scrambling to grab food.

    Wrapping the whole naan bread around torn pieces of roastedmb and adding a touch of refreshing pickled vegetables before taking a big bite was their favorite way to eat. A mouthful of hot vegetable souppleted the satisfaction.

    For these elementary school students, the real issue at hand was that no matter how good a wife is, she''s not as good as naan bread.

    Naan bread can be eaten, but can a wife be eaten?

    This multiple-choice question was almost a giveaway.

    Chen Fei also took a naan bread sprinkled with sesame seeds and learned to shave strips of roastedmb off the bone with a dinner knife. After adding some shredded dried radish and rolling it up to take a bite, he found it incredibly fragrant, no wonder the children loved it so much.

    He looked towards thergest room in the courtyard, which was also where the students had their sses, and asked, "What about the other children? How do they solve their lunch issue?"

    Through the window, he could vaguely see that the students were all sitting quietly in the ssroom.

    With Shen Fei''s efforts alone, much of her time had to be spent on teaching. Surely she couldn''t have any energy left to provide lunch for so many students, could she?

    "Most of them bring their own, and I provide hot vegetable soup for them, arge bowl each."

    Indeed, Shen Fei didn''t have the capacity to supply a hot lunch for all students. Simply providing hot vegetable soup was already the limit of what she could afford to do. She turned her gaze towards the six ravenous children at the table and said, "These six are the top students of their grade from thest test. They can enjoy a free lunch with me as a form of encouragement and reward.

    The tallest one is Muzike, he''s in sixth grade. Next to him is Du Lu who''s in fifth grade, followed by Tina in fourth grade, Little Cherry in third grade¡ªher name was given by me. Her chubby red cheeks are as adorable as cherries, making you want to take a bite. Then we have Mo Erhan from second grade and Funa from first grade."

    The six elementary school students, three boys and three girls, clearly demonstrated that the girls had an advantage in learning during the early grades.

    But Chen couldn''t recognize all the students here. Shen Fei, seizing the opportunity, introduced a few more. Bit by bit, it wouldn''t take many times for him to be able to name every student here.

    When her own name came up, Little Cherry shyly bowed her head, her cheeks indeed as red and plump as real cherries.

    The three little boys named were all grinning, making faces at Chen, obviously very mischievous.

    Children are naturally curious, and all the students at this school already knew that a big brother named Chen Fei had just started working at the nearby Aircrew Base and was Teacher Shen''s fellow townsman.

    Perhaps it was a case of love me, love my dog; seeing Teacher Shen''s good grace, these little imps werepletely at ease with Chen, with no barriers at all, treating him like one of their own.

    Shen Fei''s hometown had a natural advantage when it came to food, and even if these children were toozy, they couldn''t resist the allure of lunch and would struggle to study hard or else they''d be left drooling and crying over the feast their top-scoring ssmates were enjoying.

    For the students'' parents, a free lunch could significantly reduce family expenses. The food was good and they trusted it when it came from Teacher Shen.

    Herding sheep was out of the question. Honestly earning the top grade was the only way to give their families a break.

    Children tend to remember rewards more than punishments. They won''t learn if they don''t want to, and no amount of beating will help, but when ites to food-driven strategies, these greedy kids had almost no resistance.

    Though Shen Fei was maintaining the school all on her own, ensuring teaching quality meant she had to put extra thought into her methods.

    "Teacher Shen, can you afford the sry burden?"

    Even after starting her own vegetable garden anding up with so many different ideas, Chen Fei was somewhat worried about the economic pressure on the female teacher, as she must have dug deep into her own pockets.

    If one came here with the intention of making money, they definitely couldn''tst long; leaving early would be the best choice.

    After all, with so many mouths to feed, even if pickles and vegetables were homegrown without much cost, the expenses for flour and meat were still not a small figure.

    Previously, when he took out the vital wheat gluten powder, sugar, and yeast from his backpack, he could tell from Shen Fei''s reaction of surprise that her stock of supplies wasn''t exactly abundant.

    "It''s alright, I have extra allowances and various subsidies, and sheep and chickens here are very cheap. Plus, with what I grow myself, it''spletely manageable. UNESCO and Apocalypse Defense Group have an agreement, and the Aircrew Base regrly provides me with some material aid, like flour, rice, cooking oil, condiments, and personal items, so we''re hardlycking in anything.

    It''s just that specialty bread flour isn''t readily avable, so thank you for bringing me the vital wheat gluten powder. Now I can go all out on baking bread again."

    Although Teacher Shen Fei was working hard to maintain such a school deep in the wilds of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, and the number of students wasn''t small, inevitable inconveniences arose. Yet, she remained very optimistic.

    Teacher Shen Fei and herpatriots had long ago maxed out their survival skills like farming and were more adept at self-sufficiency and oveing challenges. Unlike people elsewhere who only know to build a boat to save themselves from a flood, they had never thought of defeating the flood or dragging the deity down to smash it on the ground.

    "If there''s anything you need or find inconvenient, just give me a shout, but..."

    Chen Fei began speaking and then started scratching his head, showing an embarrassed look.

    This school, which had to figure out its own electricity, was in a signal blind spot. In fact, most areas of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range had no civilian signals apart from satellite, meaning no inte or phone calls, almost no different fromplete istion.

    Without even a working phone line between the school and the Aircrew Base, how could he be contacted? Relying on people to ry messages would take at least five to six hours each way; in terms of efficiency and cost, it was indeed quite a challenge.

    Seeing Chen Fei''s embarrassment, Shen Feiughed and waved her hand, saying, "It''s okay, it''s okay. If you have some free time, juste and visit. Actually, there''s not much work here. The kids usually help me out with some things. If we really need more hands, the nearby vigers alwayse to help."

    This primary school was a joint effort established by several nearby viges; if Teacher Shen Fei faced difficulties, no one would ignore her plight.

    "Sure, I''ll definitelye over more often!"

    Chen Fei said, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he touched the back of his head.

    "There''s aposition ss this afternoon, with all six grades together. You could help me out with that."

    Teacher Shen Fei blinked, the corners of her eyes carrying a smile.

    "No problem, consider it done."

    Chen Fei responded without hesitation and pped his chest, leaving a few greasy palm prints on his shirt.

    After all, he was a college student preparing for postgraduate studies; dealing with elementary students''positions was a piece of cake and could easily be handled.

    "Then I''ll count on you!"

    After lunch and an additional hour of free time, the bell for ss rang punctually at 1:30 pm.

    The children, who had been ying in the yard, finally started to settle down and filed into therge ssroom, one by one.

    The two-hourposition ss was presided over by Teacher Shen Fei, who set the topic; the first hour was for writing, and the second for critique.

    The growth stages in elementary studentpositions each had their distinct features.

    Characters, words, short sentences, long sentences, paragraphs; time, ce, characters, events; goals, obstacles, analysis and choices, results and rewards; the central idea, distinctive features, conflicts, twists, the main point; personification, metaphors, hyperbole, parallelism, allusions, a wide range of emotions and desires...

    when you see a mountain as a mountain, water as water, a mountain not as a mountain, water not as water, then again a mountain as a mountain, and water as water.

    Despite having the same topic,positions by different grades would still show significant differences.

    The sound of rustling paper quickly filled therge ssroom as students from each grade began to write with focused intensity.

    -

 Chapter 30: Section 30 - Psychological Issues

    ...

    The setting sun gradually sank into the west.

    Carrying a backpack filled with small bread loaves, Chen Fei set off on his return journey to the Aircrew Base.

    As he left the school, Teacher Shen Fei and several students who were staying overnight stood on the ridge with shlights, lighting the path ahead for him.

    After the sunset, the temperature dropped sharply. A cold wind suddenly swept through his neck. Chen Fei shivered and hastily zipped up his windbreaker, pulled on his hood, and turned on the light on his shoulder. Only then did he feel somewhat better.

    "Awoooo¡­"

    The distant howling of wolves echoed across the mountains, followed by another howl from a different direction, as if they were responding to each other.

    For a moment, the howling of the wolves rose and fell, like arge gathering, making one''s hair stand on end with fear and trepidation.

    However, Chen Fei seemed oblivious to it, his mindpletely detached from the wolf howls filling his ears, instead recalling the afternoon''s essay ss.

    Emmmmm¡­ very bizarre.

    It was just an elementary school essay. How hard could it be?

    Teacher Shen Fei''s essay topic allowed choosing any fruit to write aposition of over 200 words, which provided a lot of creative freedom.

    Chen Fei, helping Teacher Shen Fei, also grabbed a pen and a sheet of grid paper, yfully joining the elementary students in writing the essay.

    A college student writing an elementary school essay, whether in terms of social experience or vocabry mastery, was akin to a dimensional strike.

    While the elementary students were scratching their heads in deep thought, Chen Fei easily began writing. He chose watermelon and cleverly started byparing it to a puffed-up green frog. If he continued using metaphors, personifications, and exaggerations, it could have been a lively and interesting essay.

    However, Chen Fei failed to notice that his writing had mysteriously gone astray, veering off by miles.

    "¡­a white knife goes in, a red knifees out¡­ red liquid flows¡­ cut into eight pieces¡­"

    He ended up turning a simple watermelon cutting into a watermelon murder case, and the writing was filled with murderous intent. It was only after finishing thest word that he abruptly realized he had written a very peculiar essay.

    Feeling that something was off, Chen Fei didn''t dare show the sheet filled with writing to Shen Fei. Instead, he pretended as if nothing had happened and quietly folded it, stuffing it into his pocket.

    This was very wrong, incredibly wrong!

    But there was also some good news.

    The "Phantosmia" finally had a solution that required neither injections nor medication, all thanks to a book titled "DOS for Dummies." Themands within it could actually affect "Phantosmia," and although he had yet to try the othermands, themand "cls" had already been proven to be effective.

    Shen Fei generously gifted him this half-century-oldputer book, solving his urgent problem, which was now sitting in his backpack alongside the bizarre essay from the afternoon.

    During the night, the loud howls of wild wolves did note to bother Chen Fei. Even if they targeted him, it did not matter; an AK-47 in hand, the mere sound of gunfire was enough to deter these beasts, enough to keep the whole pack at bay.

    Under the gaze of variously colored pupils reflected in the dark, Chen Fei returned to the Aircrew Base. Before he even had the chance to drop off his backpack at the dorm, he rushed to find the medical team.

    "Hey, hey, hey, Dr. Jackson, stop for a moment and look at this."

    He pulled out the essay from his backpack, pped it on the desk in front of the duty doctor, William Jackson, and then tapped on his SVR helmet.

    Who would have thought this seemingly respectable guy was into this sort of thing? No wonder Piao Aihua''s shady business still managed to survive. He must have made a fortune.

    Ever since the shady dealer was arrested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, no new news hade out, and it was unclear what the situation was now.

    "What! Oh yeah!"

    The ck doctor, still involuntarily trembling, let out a long sigh, then reluctantly took off the SVR equipment, looking at Chen Fei with dissatisfaction, and said, "Didn''t you see I was busy here? Couldn''t you have waited a bit?"

    Chen Fei pointed to the clock in the room, saying, "It''s working hours now."

    "Fine, fine, what do you want? A little under-the-table antibiotics, no problem, but you can''t go spreading it around. And I don''t issue prescriptions for psychotropic drugs."

    Dr. William Jackson simply set aside the SVR helmet, swept his hand across theputer screen a few times.

    The abuse of medication was rampant, hence drug control was always stringent; only prescribing doctors were authorized to prescribe certain strictly regted medications.

    Thinking Chen Fei was there to discreetly get some prescriptions from him, he could only timidly issue a bit more antibiotics, not daring to overstep, especially with addictive drugs,cking the nerve to do so.

    "I''m not here for drugs. Look at this."

    Chen Fei tapped on the checkered manuscript paper ced on the desktop and then pulled over a chair to sit opposite the desk.

    "What is this?"

    Dr. William Jackson looked at the checkered manuscript paper on the desk, slightly bemused, and then involuntarily began to read it.

    The essay of an elementary school student was not long, it could be read in one minute.

    "What a terrible essay."

    The ck doctor finished reading, shrugged his lips, twisted his waist with a "pop" sound, and automatically withdrew silently. He smoothly pulled up his trousers, reverting to his usual predator-in-a-suit demeanor.

    It was still a nice bonus for him.

    Being a doctor was considered a profession for the highly educated, high-quality males, excellent breed, not cheap at all.

    Making money, after all, was not shameful.

    Top students should learn to protect themselves too, not to foolishly give away advantages to those morously cheap good-for-nothings; they were just inferior assets, and they even required extra payments.

    "I wrote it."

    Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, feeling that he had unconsciously written this creepy little essay and hoped to get some references and advice from the professional doctor.

    "Pfft! Are you joking?"

    Dr. William Jackson, his head full of question marks, then looked at Chen Fei with the expression one reserves for an idiot.

    If there had been a Husky across from him, tongue out and silly as ever, then it would have been spot on, old pal!

    But he was not facing a Husky!

    "No joke, something''s really off, very off, Doctor."

    Chen Fei spread his hands, indicating he hadn''te to bother the doctor with this dull jokete at night, and moreover, to interrupt his private time.

    If he didn''t figure out this oddity, he was afraid he wouldn''t be able to sleep a wink.

    "Uh, indeed... something''s very off, you came to the right person."

    Dr. William Jackson''s expression turned serious. He clicked a few times on hisputer screen, then turned to Chen Fei and continued, "Let''s start with a psychological test questionnaire. This one is professional, used annually for psychological assessments by the pilots."

    An adult writing an elementary school essay was abnormal enough, especially one penned like this.

    As Chen Fei filled out the psychological test questionnaire, the doctor rested his hands on his chin, sniffed his nose¡ªthe scent of Heather was a bit strong, so he quickly tore off a piece of alcohol wipe, rubbed fiercely, and then threw it into the trash can.

    Ding!~

    The collection and juicing machine emitted a crisp sound,pleted the quick freezing collection, and showed the number 58¡ªthis month''s collection quantities. Just two more and he could send them out via transport machine, convolutedly delivering them to the buyer, then waiting for a hefty transaction toe through.

    For high-quality men, making money was just that easy.

    Poor students would be crying by the roadside.

    "Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    A:\\>cls

    A:\\>_

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    ..."

    Phantosmia continued to tirelessly refresh the screen, but now Chen Fei had a way to deal with it, asionally throwing out a "cls"mand to clear the screen, letting his view return to rity. Even if it quickly filled up again, it was still better than beingpletely without a n as before.

    After a series of taps and swipes, ten minutester, Chen Fei finallypleted the lengthy psychological assessment questionnaire and turned the screen back to the doctor.

    -

 Chapter 31: Section 31 - Theres Something Wrong with This Gun

    Dr. William Jackson tapped on the disy in front of him a few times, and immediately saw the assessment value, a pentagonal diagram, and amentary.

    "139 points,wful good, sensitive, principled, upright, conservative, emotionally biased, weak in judgment..."

    Over a hundred random professional psychological assessment questions had thoroughly analyzed Chen Fei''s personality traits and mental state.

    "Emmmm..." Dr. William Jackson hesitated as he looked at the results, his gaze shifting back and forth between Chen Fei and the checkered draft paper on the desk, tentatively asking, "Did you really write this essay yourself?"

    Chen Fei confidently said, "Yes, I wrote it."

    At that moment, the draft paper was right in front of him, the pen in his hand, and the handwriting was also his; surrounded by a group of elementary students, it was impossible for someone else to have written it for him.

    "The essay is indeed very abnormal, clearly exhibiting paranoid and antisocial personality traits, with characteristics of schizophrenia, yet your psychological test shows no issues at all,pletely that of a mentally healthy normal person."

    This time, even the doctor was somewhat perplexed.

    The psychological assessment questionnaire system that Dr. William Jackson had Chen Feiplete was the most professional and widely used in the industry, containing tens of thousands of questions.

    It could automatically generate tests with models catering to different professional fields, and the final assessment results were not just a matter of adding and subtracting points for correct or incorrect answers; there was a deep analysis of behavioral consciousness, and each question was interconnected through hidden logical rules, assessed via a specialputational model.

    Up to this point, cases of clear misjudgment had been few and far between, urring only among those with professional training, all of whom were experts well-versed in human nature.

    Chen Fei looked towards the ck doctor scratching his head and asked, "So, I am normal, right?"

    "You are normal at the moment, and it..." Dr. William Jackson''s eyes fell on the checkered draft paper and he said, "is not!"

    "This is a paradox."

    Chen Fei shook his head, finding it hard to ept such a conclusion.

    "Uh! Let me think, let me think this through." Dr. William Jackson tried to clear his head, then suddenly pped his forehead and said, "Right, there''s a new product you can try."

    He stood up, rummaged around the room for a while, pulled out an elegant paper box, took out a ring-shaped object from it, and handed it to Chen Fei.

    "This device is called ''Ayr''s Ring,'' a monitoring headband that can capture brainwave signals and spiritual power fluctuations,sts a week on a full charge of electric energy. Put it on your head and see how it feels."

    Chen Fei weighed the delicate white ring, light in weight, as he tried slipping it onto his head, jokingly saying, "Feels like the Golden Hoop from ''Journey to the West'', Jackson, are you sure I can take it off again after putting it on?"

    "Ayr''s Ring" had a stretch mechanism that could adapt to various head shapes, with several sensors tightly fitting Chen Fei''s head.

    "Ha, don''t be ridiculous, how could that be? You are not the Monkey King, bound by a Tightening Curse? Just wear it for now, bring it in periodically for data collection, and remember to charge it on time."

    The ck doctorughed, amused by how a newlyunched high-tech product ended up associated with the ssic literary work ''Journey to the West''. Indeed, slipping something like a Golden Hoop onto one''s head was quite a fascinating idea.

    "All right, I''ll give it a try first."

    Chen Fei tried taking off "Ayr''s Ring" again, which was easy without the unfortunate entrapment like the Monkey King.

    Dr. William Jackson inquired, "Any other questions?"

    Chen Fei, wearing his new equipment, shook his head, his gaze falling on the tabletop.

    "No more, so this paper!"

    "Leave it here with me for now, I''ll have an expert look at it."

    The ck doctor prepared to file the checkered draft paper for reference, the original document having potential value for analysis.

    -

    After leaving the medical group''s clinic, Chen Fei returned to his dormitory, put away his backpack and "Ayr''s Ring," then carrying a long object tightly bound with rope, he went to the small bar "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes," adjacent to the base''s cafeteria.

    As night fell, the holographic projection sign of "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" was the most noticeable spot in the entire Aircrew Base. Every time a night flight returned, the first visual confirmation was not the runway, but the bar''s lights.

    As the only entertainment venue on base, the bar not only had a long bar counter serving various drinks but also featured a dance floor, a jukebox, slot machines, billiards, a reading area, a tea room, and a quiet room, catering to both lively and calm activities.

    Chen Fei pushed through the bustling dance floor, finding Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, surrounded by people amidst the bizarre lights and the slow sway of saxophone music.

    The big bear was gritting his teeth in an arm-wrestling match, howling continuously.

    Bang! The arm-wrestling table shook, and like a big gori, Chekhov leaped up, pounding his chest forcefully.

    "©»|£àO¡ä|©¿ Woah~~KUMA!!!!"

    After a tense ten seconds, he suddenly exerted his strength and finally won.

    The big bear''s recovery strength was truly terrifying.

    The crowd around them cheered along, most of whom were pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    The man who lost to Chekhov, annoyed, pushed through the crowd and retreated to a corner to sulk with his drink.

    The arm-wrestling table was scattered with a pile of cash, all spoils of war for the victor.

    Chen Fei squeezed next to the hopping and jumping big bear and greeted him loudly.

    "Chekhov!"

    Whether it was from too much excitement or too much drink, the bear, reeking of alcohol, replied incoherently, "Hey, Rookie, call me ''Peanut Butter''. Look, ''Peanut Butter'' the mighty is unmatched in this world."

    "Okay, I came to return something to you, uh, never mind, I''lle look for you tomorrow."

    Chen Fei was a bit worried that the big bear might be too tipsy, for he was carrying something that was certainly no toy.

    "What is it? My beloved little treasure? Hahaha, bring it here, let''s fire a few shots, if you''re a man,e shoot!"

    Sure enough, the big bear was a bit tipsy and Snatched the tightly wrapped oblong item from Chen Fei''s hand without any exnation.

    His carrot-thick fingers lightly tugged at it as if tearing off a girl''s panties, pulling open the cords and the bag.

    "My baby, Emmmm¡­ my gun!"

    Just as the big bear was about to proudly show off his little treasure, the next second, his eyes bulged out, his face filled with disbelief, followed by a heart-wrenching cry.

    What, howe there''s a big hole in the receiver frame, a clear view to the interior showing the hammer, firing pin, and the recoil spring? Looking at the other parts of the gun, they''re covered with dents and pits, the nearly new condition mysteriously transformed into a post-apocalyptic wastnd look.

    What happened to the promised original products from Izhevsk Armory?!

    "Aaaaah, Rookie, what have you done to my little treasure?"

    If not for the correct serial number stamp on the gun, he would have believed that Chen Fei had switched it out.

    "Puhahaha, Chekhov, what happened to your little treasure? Looks like it got run over!"

    "Did you get someone to modify this? Wow, it looks even more artistic now!"

    "''Peanut Butter'' boss, there''s no problem with your gun, right? How did it turn out like this?"

    "It does look quite unique!"

    Not that no one suspected Chen Fei had pulled some trick; this old relic could blow its barrel, break in half, or evenpletely vanish, all eptable oues, but this level of industrial art was truly baffling.

    "How, how did it turn out like this?"

    Chen Fei was also dumbfounded, unable to believe that the "broken gun" in Chekhov''s hands was the same AK-47 automatic rifle he had wrapped up before.

    He remembered distinctly, even throughout the whole day, the AK-47 was perfectly fine when it was handed to him in the morning, how did it be such a mess now.

    -

 Chapter 32: Section 32 - Losing Money...

    "Hey, ''Rookie'' little bro,e here,e here, sit down first and then we''ll talk."

    Big Bear pulled Chen Fei to an arm-wrestling table without a word, pushed him down into the seat opposite, andid the pitiful-looking AK-47 across the table, saying, "We''re friends alright, but today you''ve got to give me an exnation!"

    If this were just any ordinary modern firearm, that would have been one thing, but such an original AK was already rare, and one in near-mint condition was even scarcer. Ruin one, and one less exists¡ªa beating right then and there for the kid across from him was already Uncle Chekhov showing good temper.

    "I, I¡ªI don''t know!"

    Chen Fei trembled.

    The gun was in such a shape, what could he possibly do?

    A famed antique firearm like this, he had no idea where to find another, probably meaning he would have to pay a hefty sum.

    "Listen, this AK-47 is an original piece from Izhevsk Armory a hundred years ago, the market price is 2.8 million, but I got it for only 2.3 million. I''ll give you a 20% discount, rounding down, justpensate me 1.8 million and we''ll call it even," Chekhov said while seriously doing the math, quoting a fair and honest number.

    Antique famous firearms are non-renewable hot collectibles; their price only goes up. I bet in a few years, breaking 3 million wouldn''t be impossible.

    Even right now, a friendly price of 2.3 million Star Yuan isn''t easy toe by.

    "But I don''t have any money!"

    Chen Fei was as pale as a sheet, shaking his head like a rattle-drum, and while saying this, he was utterly panicked.

    He was in the advanced stages of poverty, a millionaire in debt, where would he get such a sum topensate the other, let alone 1.8 million Star Yuan? Even selling himself wouldn''t cover it.

    "You don''t have money?"

    Chekhov looked half-skeptical, half-believing. In his own view, 1.8 million Star Yuan wasn''t a big deal.

    The others gradually fell silent, looking at Chen Fei with some sympathy. It seemed this kid was about to get thrashed any minute now.

    If anyone thought the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was some easy-going charitable soul, they were sorely mistaken.

    A punch from Big Bear could easily put someone in bed for a good half month, at least.

    Chen Fei spoke with a bitter tone, "Squadron Leader Chekhov, it''s not that I don''t want topensate, but I also owe 7 million Star Yuan in debt. Not to mention 1.8 million Star Yuan, I don''t even have 10,000 Star Yuan. My sry all goes to paying off the debts, how could I possibly have any money left."

    Bumping into such bad luck out of the blue, it really was like the roof leaking during a rainy night, even a fart could injure his heel.

    Moreover, a debt of 7 million Star Yuan rued interest. Even if it weren''t usury, an eight percent interest rate was the norm. His current sry wasn''t even enough to cover the interest, but the creditpany was eyeing Chen Fei''s future, considering he was a university graduate preparing for advanced studies. College students these days still had some value.

    If he had been some no-namemunity college student, the creditpany wouldn''t even give him the time of day.

    "No money..."

    Chekhov furrowed his brow, tapping his fingers on the arm-wrestling table over and over.

    Lending his gun in good faith for the other to use for self-defense on the trip, he never would have guessed that a perfectly fine AK-47 automatic rifle would return in such a wretched condition. Understandably, he felt extremely frustrated.

    Who knows what had happened to this antique firearm in the hands of this rookie.

    The others sensed the atmosphere was a bit off, fearing that Big Bear might lose control and cause a fatality on the spot, they started to chime in with advice, several of which were pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    "Chekhov, don''t do anything rash, he''s still a newbie. Keep your cool. If Manager Morris finds out, you''re in for it," they cautioned.

    "Don''t rush, don''t rush, no one get anxious. Rookie is still young, he''ll pay it off eventually. Hey, Rookie, hurry up and call your family, figure out a way to scrape up the money! You''ve really been too careless."

    "There''s always a solution, both of you don''t do anything drastic!"

    "Let''s all think of a way to help the Rookie."

    "Got it, the cafeteria''s been short-handed recently, and Rookie has a racial talent for it, he could give it a try."

    "Hasn''t Manager Morris always been saying that he wants to find an apprentice for the old Neanderthal man to watch over the Energy Tower at night? It''s still technical work, and if it''s part-time, he''s definitely going to earn an extra wage."

    ...

    Some were pulling Chekhov aside for work, others were persuading Chen Fei, and some were blindly making suggestions, everyone talking over each other and creating a mess.

    "Enough noise, enough noise."

    With a wave of his arms, Chekhov once again quieted everyone down and red at Chen Fei, "Rookie, does your family not have any money either?"

    "My elder brother just bought a house to get married, and after paying the down payment and for the wedding banquet, everyone''s sry goes to the mortgage; there''s hardly any left over."

    Chen Fei helplessly spread his hands.

    He alone shouldered the debt from the creditpany and didn''t have to share the burden of his brother''s mortgage anymore, but after deducting his debt, the meager remaining bits of his sry were barely enough for daily expenses.

    At this point, despite being furious over the Chen Family''s predicament, especially the huge mess his foolish younger sister Chen Meng had caused, the girl''s family still went through with the marriage, helping with the mortgage payments. It must be said that Elder Brother Chen had good judgment; his girlfriend came from a decent family and didn''t just cut her losses in time.

    Even if she had broken off the engagement, the Chen Family wouldn''t have been able toin or me others.

    "Rookie, you only have one option now."

    Big Bear red across the arm-wrestling table at Chen Fei.

    "You, you say!"

    Chen Fei was in a panic, thinking to himself, I may sell my talent but not my body, I''m a tool-man but still have human rights, I''d rather be direct and straightforward than sneaky, a 24K pure straight guy through and through.

    "Join the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Flyers, stick with me, and use your flight allowance to pay off the debt."

    Chekhov pointed at himself with his thumb, looking both arrogant and domineering.

    This was probably the only solution without a choice.

    However, the pay in the Combat Flight Squadron was always generous and definitely ranked among the top of the Aircrew Base. As long as he could fly for ten or eight years, he would surely be able to pay off the AK-47''s debt.

    "That''s not going to work, not going to work; I don''t know how to fly a ne."

    Chen Fei shook his head rapidly, Big Bear''s suggestion was outright coercion.

    Even though Chekhov had previously mentioned joining the Combat Flight Squadron, Chen Fei had no intention of agreeing.

    Chen Fei had barely umted a full month''s time in the aircraft maintenance crew, and he hadn''t even fully understood the structure of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, let alone flying it ¨C he was virtually a nk te on that matter.

    Moreover, thest time Chekhov forcefully dragged Chen Fei into the cockpit without a word and shed directly with Metallic Dragons, it was like fighting the ultimate boss right after entering a beginner''s vige in a game; now he even had psychological trauma from almost losing his life on his first flight, on top of a new debt of 2 million Star Yuan.

    To go through that a second, a third time... was it even possible to live like that? That''s just setting someone up for failure.

    Flying was out of the question, he would never do it in this lifetime; at most, he would just takemercial flights.

    Big Bear mmed the table between them forcefully, threatening with a ferocious look, "Not possible? Then pay up, either a brand-new, original AK or 1.8 million Star Yuan, not a penny less."

    You can''t escape whether you''re a person or money; none will get away.

    "Rookie, just give in!"

    "Yeah, yeah, Major Chekhov is only thinking of your best interest."

    "Squadron Leader, talk nicely, you''re scaring the rookie."

    The crowd once again started persuading, not voicing their own opinions this time but unifying their stance, together coaxing Chen Fei to join Major Chekhov''s ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron.

    "..."

    Chen Fei became a picture of helplessness and pity.

    Being poor meant having no say; his element wascking Gold, me fate then!

    "I''ll say it one more time, after dinner tomorrow,e to the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s dormitory meeting room for the interview. If you don''te, huh!"

    Chekhov clenched his fist, making crackling noises, looking every bit the part of a gangster boss.

    Most of the employees at the 911 Aircrew Base were tool-men, even executive manager Morris Morgan was no exception, yet the people in the Combat Flight Squadron were different.

    As a high-skill profession where experience was measured by flying hours, they could find work and get by anywhere; the pay wasn''t bad, and the job itself was easy. Even after hitting the age limit and retiring, one could still be a flight instructor or, if good with writing, helppose a few flight manuals to earn some manuscript fees, ensuring afortable retirement life.

    -

 Chapter 33: Section 33 - Learned to Fly

    "I, I... I''ll do it!"

    Chen Fei, with a mournful expression, had no choice but to brace himself and agree.

    If he dared to utter half a ''no,'' he feared he would end up lying here tonight.

    In the end, he couldn''t escape the fate of settling debts with his body.

    "Hahahahaha, there you go, good brother, from now on I, Chekhov, have got your back."

    The fierce expression that had almost been murderous abruptly changed, and Chekhov burst outughing heartily, pping Chen Fei''s shoulder as if he had never intended to press the issue in the first ce.

    The crowd, whose hearts had been in their throats, collectively breathed a sigh of relief, their smiles returning, and the atmosphere at the scene became light-hearted and jovial once more.

    "Chekhov, if, if it''s alright, I''ll be going now."

    Chen Fei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, preparing to take his leave.

    "Not going to have a drink? Come on,e on, as Wu Song crossed Jingyang Ridge, without three bowls don''t think about leaving!"

    Big Bear held Chen Fei down in his seat with one hand, calling for the bartender to whip up a dozen freshly mixed "Nuclear Sunsets."

    With a single ss of alcohol, your stick takes flight, and after just two ounces in your belly, you''re tumbling seven-hundred and twenty degrees. If you can''t drink, what kind of airman are you? What if the Air Force needs your drinking capacity and, damn it, half a beer puts you down¡ªwhat kind of nonsense is that?!

    Remember how the "Airborne Surgeon" reputation was earned; it''s tradition, no issues there!

    Greeting drinks are followed by enrollment drinks, thenes the warm-up drink, and after, the review drink, followed by the interview drink... Thud, thud, thud.

    These booze hounds alwayse up with all sorts of clever excuses to pour one more. One, two, three, four, round they go again.

    Wu Song must have been so enraged by the coerced booze-slinging at the shady tavern at the foot of Jingyang Ridge that he ended up killing a man, turning the unfortunate tiger into a scapegoat. Now that was true entrapment, as the big boss Commander Wu beat the man to death with his fists, earning both fame and profit, a disy of both high IQ and EQ.

    Chen Fei had no idea how he left the "Medusa''s Beautiful Eyes" bar. When he fully regained consciousness and opened his eyes, he found himself lying in his dormitory bed with the endless beeping of the rm clock ringing in his ears.

    The cocktail "Nuclear Sunset" had a potent aftereffect, causing a splitting headache upon waking up. Memories of the previous night began flooding back like the tide returning to shore.

    Themander of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, Chekhov, had lent Chen Fei an AK-47 for self-defense. It had mysteriously be battered beyond repair. For Chen Fei, a man with millions in debt, this antique rifle worth a million Star Yuan was surely unaffordable. No money to give, but he had a life to offer.

    What followed was, it seemed, no beatings. They talked it over, and, err, in the end, he was still tricked by that Big Bear into bing a damned pilot. Did they really think the fearsome Dragon of ughter was a mere cat or dog?

    Fucking hell!

    Forcibly downing a few cocktails left him utterly confused, and against his will, he joined a wild dance with the crowd. Then, carrying the broken AK, he stumbled to the neighboring cafeteria, not knowing what he said to Chef Abel, who seemed to shed tears, looking reluctant to part... Sheesh! Damn it, I''m straight, not gay. Absolutely not messing with Abel.

    Yeah! It was for the bird, my bird, spit, this bird is getting hairy, spit spit spit, is there a bird that doesn''t grow feathers?

    And it can fly now, right, it can fly!

    But where did it fly to?

    His memory returned to this point, and Chen Fei''s brain sank into a void. He had been ckout drunk in the end.

    "Tweet!~"

    A crisp, childish chirp sounded in his ear.

    Something seemed to move above his head, and looking up, he saw a small pointed beak.

    "A:>\\cls"

    This time he finally saw it clearly; his bird was still there.

    Chen Fei let out a long sigh of relief, regaining some of his memories.

    He had entrusted the fledgling to Chef Abel for only a day, and the big Gaulish man had already developed a bond with it. When taking back the fledgling, he showed an expression of heartbreaking sadness as if parting for life and death.

    Tsk! The tears of a Gaulish man are truly cheap.

    "It can fly now, time to pick a name!"

    Chen Fei caught the fledgling that had at some point imed part of his pillow.

    "Tweet! Tweet!"

    The fledgling chirped a few times, allowing itself to be cupped in his hands and inspected from all angles without any resistance.

    In just one day, the quills on its wings had be a bit more robust, yet it was still unclear what species it was.

    Since the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm began frequent exchanges, a variety of hybrid species between the two realms inevitably emerged. Biologists'' anticipations of widespread reproductive istion had not materialized; instead, the biodiversity of both realms became even moreplex. The frequent appearance of new species made it difficult to say whether this was a good or bad thing.

    Even between the people of the two worlds, there was no reproductive istion, and there seemed to be somemonality in their DNA sequences, providing strong evidence for the more advanced research theory of the "Great World Tree Hypothesis" in the "Dimensional Membrane Theory."

    "How about calling you Little Chicken, huh? Little Chicken j¨©?"

    Chen Fei chuckled mischievously; in the end, he shook his head, abandoning the mischievous name.

    ```

    What if I need to find it and have to ask people, "Have you seen my little * *?"

    Such a shameful phrase might get mebeled as a pervert.

    "Chirp chirp!"

    The young bird continued to call out foolishly, blissfully unaware that it was almost named after Tyrannosaurus''s little cousin.

    "Since you love to chirp so much, let''s call you Xiao Jiu! You wouldn''t object, would you? Xiao Jiu!?"

    Chen Fei asked the young bird in his hand very seriously.

    As expected, it didn''t say no.

    So it''s happily decided, Xiao Jiu!

    "Chirp chirp!"

    After a quick wash, Chen Fei fed Xiao Jiu a few mealworms, took two buns from his backpack, ced the little bird on his shoulder, and headed off to the hangar for work.

    It now could fly a couple ofps in the dorm, so there was no need to put it back into its nest anymore.

    The big bag of bread that Shen Fei had sent was enough to save several days'' worth of food expenses.

    At the moment, even a mosquito is meat¡ªevery little bit counts towards building a tower out of sand.

    As soon as he entered Hangar No. 1, Chen Fei saw the tall figure of Chief Mechanic Xiao from afar and instinctively slowed his pace, shrinking his neck.

    He was forcibly conscripted by that Chekhov dude, and he wondered if it counted as a betrayal to the mechanics team.

    Thinking of the chief mechanic''s fists, which were not at all inferior to those of a big bear, he couldn''t help feeling guilty and panicked.

    The young bird standing on his shoulder, however, chirped a few times.

    Hearing the clear chirping, Xiao Ming turned his head and saw Chen Fei.

    "Little Chen,e here for a second."

    "Oh, I''ll be right there!"

    Chen Fei red at the tiny bird squatting on his shoulder without any good feelings.

    "Chirp chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu lookedpletely innocent.

    "Are you going to Chekhov''s pilot interview tonight? Want sugar?"

    Xiao Ming poured a steaming cup of coffee for Chen Fei in the container office of the mechanic team and then pressed the coffee machine again, which began to whir and nk into action.

    After a heavy night of drinking, a morning cup of coffee was essential to wake up.

    "No sugar, thanks, uh, yes... tonight."

    Chen Fei was somewhat at a loss for words; he didn''t actually know the time for the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s pilot interview, but he got a hint from the chief mechanic of the mechanics team.

    The young bird on his shoulder was hopping excitedly, traveling down his arm and onto his hand, curiously peeking into the coffee cup.

    Even though it was able to spread its wings and fly, it still preferred to hop around as its physical energy was not yet enough to support prolonged flight.

    "I mean, if you don''t want to, I''ll speak to that Chekhov guy for you."

    The coffee machine was finally ready, and Xiao Ming also poured a cup of coffee for himself, added a sugar cube, and slowly stirred it with a spoon.

    "I... I''m willing!"

    Chen Fei initially wanted to say he was unwilling, but when the words were about to escape his lips, he changed his mind at thest moment.

    The seven cardinal sins of life: Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor! Poor!

    Poor!

    Being broke is a cardinal sin, and being in debt is downright unforgivable.

    After all, being a pilot is a high-ie job; he had to bow to reality.

    Emmmm... Genuine Fragrance!

    "Is it because of the debt?"

    Despite Chief Mechanic Xiao''s towering stature and broad shoulders, his mind was incredibly sharp, and he had urately pinpointed the crux of the matter.

    Chen Fei honestly replied, "Yes!"

    He didn''t like to spend beyond his means or be in debt. He loved to hoard, save, and umte¡ªthese traits were passed down from his ancestors and etched into his genes.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 34: Section 34 - Spline Puller

    Xiao Ming said indifferently, "You can take a part-time job!"

    "A part-time job?"

    Chen Fei was startled and then stared at the chief mechanic with his mouth wide open.

    Big Brother Xiao was actually so magnanimous. It was obvious that Chekhov, the Big Bear, was trying to poach from the mechanic team.

    "There''s no conflict between the flight duties and the mechanics'' work."

    The chief mechanic, Xiao, shrugged his shoulders.

    That made sense. Once the pilots took off, the mechanics who orbited the aircraft had nothing to do.

    Not until the aircraft returned to the ground would it be the mechanics'' turn to take over. The two were just connecting the upstream and downstream processes: one was in charge of operating, the other of repairing. There was no ovep.

    Therefore, it was theoretically feasible to take on both mechanic and pilot jobs at the same time.

    "That''s great, really great. Thank you, Chief Mechanic Xiao."

    As expected, Chen Fei was overjoyed. This proposal to some extent alleviated his debt crisis, and it was even more precious than borrowing a lump sum of money directly.

    If the head of the mechanics'' group hadn''t agreed, even if he knew it could be done this way, he could only think about it.

    At that moment, Xiao Jiu bent down to sneak a peck at the coffee and immediately let out a series of strange chirps.

    Chen Fei thought the little creature had been scalded by the coffee and quickly covered the cup to prevent it from identally falling in and taking a hot coffee bath.

    "Jiu jiu jiu!"

    Xiao Jiu pecked discontentedly at Chen Fei''s fingers, not at all looking like it had been scalded. Instead, it was eager to have a few more sips.

    The joy was always short-lived.

    The chief mechanic, Xiao Ming, poured a bucket of cold water over Chen Fei''s head.

    "Don''t be too happy yet. To earn the part-time sry, you still need the executive manager, Morris Morgan, to nod his approval. I''ll talk to him at noon. Also, are you interested in Old Barlut''s apprenticeship? The main job is to watch over the Energy Tower on the night shift. There isn''t any danger, but someone needs to be there to watch.

    If there are signs of operation anomalies or fault alerts, you must report promptly. There may be some conflicts with nighttime flying duties for pilots, but you shouldn''t have any night flying assignments in the short term."

    Most likely, seeing that Chen Fei was truly destitute, with debts mounting by the day, the leader of the mechanics'' group took the initiative to help him out.

    A stopgap solution won''t resolve poverty; rather than giving a man a fish, teach him to fish. Offering him a job to earn money was far more helpful in addressing Chen Fei''s current situation than just giving him money.

    For a young man who had just graduated from college, it was the age to work hard. Taking extra shifts and working nights, even taking several jobs, were not a problem.

    Better to suffer a bit now than wait until older, less able to work, and still running around frantically with a grimy face.

    Chen Fei said with great gratitude, "Thank you, Chief Mechanic. Thank you, Chief Mechanic."

    "Go study now! You''ll have to start soon."

    Xiao Ming''s gaze fell on Technical Manual E spread out on the table.

    The technical manual for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft totaled seven volumes, A through G. After finishing two more thick and heavy "bricks," Chen Fei should have the basic hands-on knowledge for this aircraft.

    But that was just the beginning. Of course, the Aircrew Base had more than just the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster." There were also the Z-9 armed helicopters and the MiG-28 jet fighters. There were still more technical manuals to go through!

    For someone like Chen Fei, who was pushed to do remedial studies in a specialized manner, there were bound to be many systemic deficiencies and gaps. If he wanted to truly make a living in this field in the future, he probably wouldn''t be able to stop supplementing the basics.

    -

    After leaving the mechanic group''s container office, Chen Fei ced the coffee and bread on a workbench and began to read Technical Manual E intently.

    When fully engrossed, time always flies by quickly.

    When lunchtime came and someone called Chen Fei to go to the canteen together, he was still buried in the technical manual, just waving his hand to signal them to go ahead.

    Since he had bread to stave off hunger, why waste the meal allowance? It was, after all, still a sum of cash.

    With one hand on the book and the other periodically tearing off a piece of bread, he managed to get through the meal.

    The bread made by Teacher Shen Fei was rich in ingredients, with local homemade butter, and added with sugar, milk powder, and sunflower seed kernels. The dough was well-kneaded, properly fermented, and baked just right ¡ª fluffy and soft with a strong milk fragrance, free of any additives. Such a piece of bread was just the right substitute for lunch.

    Xiao Jiu, revealing its yful and curious nature, was not confined by a cage, nor did it fly far away. It always hovered close to Chen Fei, ignoring its own feed and mealworms. Instead, it preferred the moments when Chen Fei pulled apart bread, seizing the opportunity to p over, peck a small piece, and proudly carry it to his shoulder, throwing back its head to swallow it whole.

    The little creature took a special interest in Chen Fei''s coffee. After tasting it once, it seemed to be hooked and was persistent in trying to sneak more. Chen Fei, however, would not indulge it and simply finished the coffee in the paper cup in one gulp.

    Yet Xiao Jiu did not give up and circled the empty cup tirelessly, pecking here and there, attempting to find a drop or two of coffee left to taste. In the end, it identally knocked over the cup, trapping itself underneath, and spun around on the table, chirping anxiously until Chen Fei rescued it. Then it resumed hopping vivaciously on the table.

    Click!

    Chen Fei suddenly tasted a strong vor of machine oil, puzzled, he shifted his gaze from the book to his hands.

    What he held was not the bread he had imagined, but a short cylindrical metal object with a line of teeth marks on it, as if bitten.

    What''s this all about?

    Before he had much time to ponder, a mechanic from the nearby work area came to the workbench next to Chen Fei, scanning it while mumbling to himself, "Eh? Where did it go? It was right here."

    There were over a dozen tools and materials on the workbench, clearly none what he was looking for.

    Chen Fei nced at the metal piece with a bit bitten off in his hand and quietly covered it with a book, this object simply defied exnation.

    After searching for a while with no sess, the mechanic finally turned to Chen Fei and asked, "Little Chen, have you seen a 22mm AKE spline puller?"

    Creak, creak, Chen Fei chewed involuntarily a few times before swallowing what was in his mouth, then said with some guilt, "Haven''t seen it."

    It actually tasted like peanuts, just with a bit too much machine oil vor, but not bad overall.

    "Ah, forget it, I''ll just go get another one."

    The mechanic, not wanting to waste more time searching, scratched the back of his head and returned to his area to continue organizing and maintaining the tools.

    To do good work, one must first sharpen one''s tools. With a modest workload before the new attack aircraft''s arrival, the mechanics focused mainly on organizing and maintaining the various maintenance equipment and tools.

    Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the man''s retreating figure and looked at the metal object that had been covered by the technical manual E, inhaling sharply.

    This metal object was the 22mm spline puller, a piece of special-purpose equipment. Apparently, it had been ced on the workbench beside Chen Fei by the mechanic who must have identally rolled it next to the bread, where Chen Fei picked it up and bit into it without realizing.

    It must have been one of Xiao Jiu''s mischievous pranks.

    Fortunately, his teeth didn''t break, but the spline puller had a small piece bitten off.

    The quality of this thing is really dubious; are you sure it''s a tool and not actual snacks?

    Chen Fei didn''t think much of his own dental strength, but at the moment, his mind was muddled.

    Without thinking, he brought the 22mm spline puller to his mouth and took another bite, crunch, crunch, it tasted like peanut-vored soda crackers with a crunch and fragrance, aside from the machine oil vor.

    By the time he came to his senses, the whole S2 tool steel spline puller had been eaten, and Chen Fei looked at his empty hand, somewhat stunned.

    This was trouble; not only did he have "phantosmia," but he''d also developed pica!

    But since he could chew it up, there shouldn''t be any problems... right?

    His gaze involuntarily wandered to the tools and materials on the workbench...

    "Jiu!~"

    Xiao Jiu flew to Chen Fei''s hand, pping its wings and chirping incessantly.

    What are you chirping for?

    Why don''t you look at me more?

    Am I not beautiful?

    At this moment, however, Chen Fei had no mood to y with this little mischief-maker, cing it on his shoulder he hurriedly left the hangar.

    Making up an excuse on the spot, he had the medical team perform a CT scan on him.

    Under the X-ray... even the bones of Xiao Jiu, stubbornly clinging to Chen Fei''s shoulder, were captured, yet there was no sign of the most conspicuous 22mm spline puller fragments. It was as if he had eaten loneliness, all just a hallucination.

    -

 Chapter 35: Section 35 - Interview

    Trouble neveres alone.

    Before he could even figure out his "Phantosmia," another pica popped up, threatening to carry him off this mortal coil.

    But the examination results let Chen Fei breathe a sigh of relief¡ªno one wants a pile of steel inside their stomach.

    Illusions are still better than pica, but he didn''t dare to eat anything odd again¡ªafter all, he wasn''t an Iron-eating Beast. Better stick to bread!

    Returning to Hangar 1, Chen Fei quickly forgot about identally swallowing a No. 22 spline shaft key as he refocused on the technical manual E. After all, studying was the most important thing at the moment. Once his part-time position in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was confirmed, it would inevitably take up the time he spent with the maintenance crew.

    The afternoon passed in a sh.

    Per usual, he dealt with dinner using a single piece of bread. After a shower back in the dorm, Chen Fei went to the interview location for the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, with his clingy little bird, Xiao Jiu, on his shoulder.

    The area where the pilots waited on standby in Hangar 1 wasn''t the Combat Flight Squadron''s domain. "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had its own territory, housed within a three-story building next to two hangars, which also served as the pilots'' dormitory area.

    The ground crew''s departments and the pilots'' dormitory areas were separate, with the pilots'' quarters adjacent to the hangars.

    Tactically, this allowed pilots to rush to the hangars and board their aircraft at the first sign of trouble. It also prevented them from being wiped out in a single strike if the enemy attacked. If the hangars were leveled to the ground, it didn''t matter much if there were still living pilots¡ªnes intact, pilots alive; nes destroyed, pilots perished. That was the general idea.

    Seeing the "Genuine Fragrance" sign at the entrance, Chen Fei was about to step inside when he was unexpectedly bumped into and nearly lost his bnce.

    "Hey! Watch where you''re going, kid!"

    A dark-skinned fellow shouldered his way past Chen Fei, giving him a scornful look before strutting triumphantly into the three-story building and disappearing from Chen Fei''s sight.

    The air was thick with the strong scent of curry, and something else that smelled rather foul.

    Dammit, a heretic!

    The startled Xiao Jiu circled around Chen Fei before settling back on his shoulder, chirping incessantly as if protesting the other person''s rudeness.

    Chen Fei shook his head and then stepped into the building.

    When he arrived at the small conference room where the interview was taking ce, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, Squadron Leader of the Aircrew Base''s in-house recruitment program, the HR manager Takar, and several pilots were already sitting behind a long conference table, with two chairs ced not far across from them.

    The dark-skinned, curry-reeking individual who had jostled Chen Fei was sitting in one of the chairs, flirting with HR manager Takar. There seemed to be some under-the-table dealings between them.

    Chen Fei, who already had a low opinion of the dodgy HR manager, now found his sentiments even less favorable, mumbling to himself about how Takar''s kin were as ubiquitous as cockroaches.

    With no family nning policy in ce, both the poor and the rich kept breeding without restraint. Despite the ballooning poption numbers, limited by resources and hygiene conditions and adept at courting death, they soon hit the poption equilibrium.

    With high birth rates came high death rates, and the count hovered around 1.5 billion, unable to surpass the 2 billion mark of widespread global distribution of the race. Apart from grinding his teeth, there was little else one could do.

    Chen Fei''s gaze fell on Chekhov in the center, which caught him off guard. Despite only a night having passed, the man looked bruised and swollen-faced, his expression stern but failing to hide his disheveled state.

    Chen Fei wondered if he''d gotten drunk the night before and beaten up this Big Bear by mistake.

    Felling Chen Fei appraising him with a puzzled look, Squadron Leader Chekhov cleared his throat irritably and said discontentedly, "Ahem! Hey, what''s-his-name, control your bird. Don''t bring it in here; throw it far away."

    There was no pilot who didn''t dread birds, especially when in the sky. The sight of them caused immediate retreat; steer clear at all cost!

    "This is my partner!"

    Chen Fei refused without hesitation. Others might not care, but he did.

    "Ha, fool!"

    The man who seemed to be there for the pilot interview looked disdainfully at Chen Fei, showing off a sense of superiority from who knows where.

    "That, um, Chen, whatever your name is, did you hear what Squadron Leader Chekhov said?"

    HR manager Takar, pretending tomand authority, piped up.

    But he didn''t dare look at Chen Fei, most likely still vividly recalling the time a te of curry fried rice ended up all over him.

    Chekhov didn''t intend to keep arguing. He pped the table and said, "Since everyone is here, let''s begin!"

    There were only two individuals there for the pilot interview¡ªChen Fei and the rude fellow.

    After all, the Aircrew Base''s in-house pilot recruitment was a serious matter. Whether it was the man familiar with HR manager Takar or Chen Fei, who came into the conference room after, both sat up straight in their chairs, adopting a posture of utmost attentiveness.

    Chekhov spoke solemnly, "Ahem, I won''t ask each candidate individually. This is going to be apetition. Any objections?"

    He seemed to wince from the pain on his face as he spoke.

    Dammit, that must have hurt!

    "No!"

    "Chirp!"

    Chen Fei was clearly embarrassed.

    "Whatpetition are you entering as a pilot, little bird? Can you pull a joystick or fire a missile?"

    Under the dumbfounded gazes of Chekhov and the others, he quickly caught the little bird in his palm and gently scratched its chin to keep Xiao Jiu from speaking out of turn.

    The little bird disyed a cat-like expression, half-closing its eyes as if it were enjoying the sensation.

    Silly bird!

    The guy sitting next to him made a mouth shape at Chen Fei.

    "Idiot!"

    Such people always think too highly of themselves, Chen Fei directly chose to ignore.

    Chekhov also opted to ignore and continued to leisurely say, "First question, do any of you have any relevant industry experience? For instance, piloting an aircraft, remotely controlling a drone, or even ying with toys andputer games would count."

    Everyone knew that there was apetitive rtionship between Chen Fei from the mechanical team and the HR manager''s fellow viger from Takar, but ultimately who would be a pilot for the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron waspletely up to Squadron Leader Chekhov, and the others were just there to witness without any right to intervene.

    "My name is Sanjani, and I''ve been an aviation enthusiast since childhood, with a collection of aircraft models from thest two hundred years at home, including Cangqiong Realm''s Light Wing Ship and Sky Falcon models.

    I''m also a high-level yer in aerialbat games, enjoy taking photos with a remote-controlled drone, have studied flying for a while, and have an international RPL beginner''s pilot license along with 30 hours of flying experience," said Takar''s fellow viger, who after finishing turned his head to show off a gleeful smile at Chen Fei.

    This guy was clearly well-prepared.

    HR manager Takar tried to hide his own ulterior motives in an exaggerated manner and said, "Little Chen, what about you?"

    "I only have a car driver''s license, C2. I just finished reading the technical manuals ABCDE, five volumes in total, for the A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft. I have no flying experience, no toy aircraft, and I''ve never yed flying games. The only thing I have rted to flying is this, Xiao Jiu!"

    Chen Fei held up the little bird as an example, feeling as if he wasn''t so much being forced to mount a shelf like a duck but a barbecue rack, which was quite unfair to anyone.

    The bird sensibly chirped, tilting its head as it sized up the several fools opposite.

    "Chirp!"

    Birds are natural flying experts, undeniably No. 1, and even humans have to learn from them.

    ¡­

    "Pfft!~~"

    "Hahahaha!"

    The pilots present could no longer contain themselves and burst intoughter.

    HR manager Takar, not wanting to be too obvious with hisughter in front of everyone, twisted his face slightly, clearly struggling to hold back.

    Chekhov helplessly rubbed his head.

    "Kid, are you serious? Hahahaha..."

    Thepetitor Sanjani couldn''t hold back anymore and broke into heartyughter, feeling like he had won another point, a victory without honor!

    Chekhov suddenly said, "No! You do have twenty minutes of realbat flight experience, with a score of one Metallic Dragon."

    His words made thepetitor Sanjani, who had beenughing nonstop, suddenly go silent as if a rooster had been strangled mid-crow.

    Bang!

    "Shit!"

    The HR manager Takar finally remembered such an incident and, frustrated, fiercely pped the table.

    What good is being an aviation enthusiast, a game expert, possessing an RPL beginner''s pilot license, and having 30 hours of flying experience when twenty minutes facing a Metallic Dragon outsses all of them, not to mention the actualbat kill recorded? It was almost like the difference between an amateur and a professional yer.

    The next second, the HR manager quickly noticed that Chekhov and the pilots had stoppedughing and were looking over with displeased expressions.

    Damn it, this is the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s turf¡ª who dares to m the table here, and what do you mean by that?!

    "What you lookin'' at?"

    Good lord! The words had barely left his mouth when he quickly covered his troublemaking mouth.

    Survival rule from Takar''s homnd: Acting meek is the way to prevail.

    -

 Chapter 36: Section 36 - Results

    The three ssic openers in dialect: "What are you looking at?" "Second Uncle!" "Evil Granny!"

    The standard usage is as follows:

    "What are you looking at?"

    "Looking at your Second Uncle!"

    "Fuck your Evil Granny!"

    Then it''s real-life yer killing... with no exceptions.

    Major Chekhov, the squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, unquestionably warned, "If you dare to m the table in front of me again, I''ll personally throw you out! I, Chekhov, always keep my word."

    Sitting beside him is a girl with a boyish haircut known as "Devil Pepper," with a silly smile on her face, watching Chekhov and giggling from time to time.

    Ever since Big Bear returned from the International Medical Ship to the Aircrew Base 911, the deputy squadron leader had been acting increasingly peculiar, clearly going into heat.

    "Dare not, dare not!"

    Takar was so scared his face turned white.

    The fellow townsman, Sanjani, also didn''t dare to make a peep.

    "Second question, there are eight ''8''s, how can you make them equal to one thousand?"

    Chekhov didn''tment on Chen Fei and Sanjani''s responses, but continued with another question instead.

    Human Resources Director Takar (¡Ñ?¡Ñ): "?????"

    Applicant Sanjani (¡ã-¡ã): "?????"

    This problem is quite difficult, which of the world''s top ten mathematical conjectures is it?

    The pilots exchanged nces, each of them sneaking a smile.

    Despite Squadron Leader Chekhov''s brash and rude talk on a daily basis, his educational level was actually quite high.

    How could anyone who flies abat aircraft have a low education level? Below a bachelor''s degree, they wouldn''t even let you touch the joystick.

    The bewildered Sanjani began to count on his fingers, muttering under his breath; there was quite a bit to figure out.

    Chen Fei, looking perfectly at ease, crossed his legs in a carefree manner, doing nothing while Xiao Jiu hopped around on his knee, pecking here and there.

    The two interviewees¡ªone sweating profusely from calcting, the other leisurely ying with a bird.

    Human Resources Director Takar began to secretly rejoice, just as he was about to reveal a gleeful expression, something shed across his mind, and he quickly resumed a serious and earnest facade, sitting upright and motionless.

    Chekhov could hammer him, and on his first day, Chen dared to mess with his livelihood; the outwardly tough but inwardly hollow Takar was not someone anyone wanted to provoke.

    "Hey, Rookie, are you giving up? Don''t forget the money you owe me!"

    Seeing Chen''sid-back demeanor, Chekhov was immediately irked and started angrily mming the table.

    After all the effort I put in, and even losing a valuable antique rifle, you show such an attitude¡ªhow is that fair to me?

    Chen Fei spread his arms and shrugged his shoulders, his response surprising everyone.

    "Too easy!"

    "@#£¤%&"

    Rival applicant Sanjani paused his calctions, incredulously turned his head towards Chen, somewhat unwilling to believe his own ears.

    Too easy?!

    What on earth is he talking about!

    "Hey! Don''t think you can fool me, once Chekhov gets really angry, the consequences will be very severe."

    Big Bear clenched his fists, the size of casserole dishes, and shed them together, producing a powerful thud.

    "Rookie, think carefully before you speak!"

    One of the pilots present couldn''t help but worry for Chen, fearing that once the squadron leader went berserk, the situation might be uncontroble.

    Chen nonchntly said, "There are two answers!"

    Although he majored in economics, not mathematics, in the field of economics, there is nock of need for calctions, and the amounts are not small.

    For Chen, such a brainteaser in mathematics was clear-cut after hearing the question.

    "This isn''t possible!!!"

    Although the other applicant, Sanjani, was in the midst of a concerted effort to calcte, he still spared some attention to Chen, even secretly hoping that this young man would just give up.

    Whether it was Takar or Sanjani, they actually quite believed in this.

    But... it was useless!

    Their family''s water pipe was more than sufficient.

    "Two?" Squadron Leader Chekhov was somewhat surprised, then he jutted his chin toward Chen Fei,pletely rxed, leaned back in the chair behind him, and coldly smiled, "The answer!"

    I''ve roamed the Jianghu for over forty years and have never encountered such tant boasting.

    Chen Fei raised an index finger and said, "The first answer, 888+88+8+8+8=1000!"

    This is the easiest method of foolish calction, starting with thergest numbers and trying several times until finally arriving at the desired answer.

    Sanjani, who waspeting for the pilot position with Chen Fei, was using this exact method, it was just that he hadn''t found the correct path yet.

    Upon hearing Chen Fei casually throw out the first answer, Sanjani trembled, growing increasingly frantic in his calctions. Despite the weather not being hot, actually being somewhat cool, he was already drenched in sweat.

    He couldn''t lose, couldn''t lose to this guy!

    "The second answer, (8888-888)¡Â8=1000, it''s that simple!"

    Chen Fei pped his hands and upgraded from simple addition and subtraction to using all four operations, a mere first-grade elementary level of math. After all, he had graduated from college, how could he be stumped by such an easy question?

    In Chen''s homnd, higher education had only started leading extensively in thest decade, but the basicpulsory education from kindergarten through high school had matched international top-tier noble education since the founding of the nation,pletely outssing students from other countries.

    Almost the entire world knew how terribly fierce these elementary students were academically, dominating globally, never defeated, often crushing higher levels with ease, terrifyingly effortless!

    "Ah!~"

    Suddenly, Sanjani screamed, his eyes rolled back, and he copsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

    Chen Fei turned his head to look, without any sense of schadenfreude, only slightly surprised that he hadn''t even exerted much effort and his opponent had already copsed.

    It was an utterly unsatisfying victory.

    "Sanjani! Sanjani!"

    Seeing this, human resources manager Takar hurried over and pinched this fellow countryman''s philtrum.

    The pinch was a bit vicious, drawing blood immediately, but the effect was instantaneous. The passed-out viger moaned and slowly came to, overwhelmed with grief, and began to wail, "I don''t ept this!"

    He hadn''t figured it out yet, but Chen had already given two answers, overwhelming the dark-skinned man significantly; a college student crushing a kindergartner.

    "We don''t even need to bother with the third question, the new member of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron is..."

    Squadron Leader Chekhov didn''t bother with Sanjani, who was stillying on the ground, and pointed crisply at Chen Fei.

    "Pilot codenamed ''Rookie,'' yes, you, don''t run, if you run, you pay back the money!"

    Murder for life, debts repaid in cash, no money sell yourself, sell yourself to work, work to pay debts. Major Chekhov''s slick operations mirrored Chen''s credit loanpany with a resemnce that no matter how far Monkey King could leap, he couldn''t escape the palm of Buddha''s hand, always ending up working for him.

    The so-called "Dragon yer Missile," a KDK-1 jet-driven hypersonic smart missile,nded in the hands of Chen, a newbie who couldn''t be more of a rookie. It required some incredibly good luck. As a pilot, one couldn''t not believe in luck, as hit rates in aerialbat were a matter of probability, and what is probability?

    It''s simply luck, like buying a lottery ticket, whether you win on your first ticket or it''s thest one when everyone else already won, it''s all the same odds.

    It must be said, the Squadron Leader of thebat squadron was cunning and had set the trap early, just waiting for little Chen Fei to fall right into it.

    Look, he even had a flight codename ready.

    This Big Bear wasn''t just all muscle and no brains, otherwise, how could hemand the respect of his ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron mates.

    The unlucky Sanjani was just like any other bystander, merely apanying the run.

    Whenever Chekhov mentioned money, Chen''s calves would start to shiver.

    As if cmitiese all at once, his debts piled higher and higher, soon to breach the ten million mark, with no end in sight to paying them off, leaving his heart cold, and life seemingly unbearable.

    During the interview, Sanjani howled again, angry, annoyed, and anxious, his eyes rolled back as he fainted once more.

    "Hey, hey, Sanjani, wake up, don''t scare me! Sanjani, Sanjani, open your eyes, don''t pass out!"

    Human resources manager Takar had no choice but to do the same again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t wake a person pretending to faint.

    Regarding Chekhov''s decision, even though the human resources manager might be dissatisfied, he still couldn''t oppose it. The reason he could interview Chen Fei and Sanjani together was that his authority was only limited to witnessing the event.

    Actually, Chen joining the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron had already been predetermined; the interview was essentially just a formality to create a sense of ceremony. Wanting to change the mind of Emperor Chekhov, a dictatorial tyrant, was almost impossible.

    Ever seen a fist as big as a sand pot?

    Takar o(*¡ã¨Œ¡ã*)o¦õ¦õ¦õ: Dare not, dare not!

    "''Peanut Butter,'' you scared Rookie!"

    Short-haired girl Irinei Rusios chided, seizing the opportunity to hug Chekhov''s arm, delighted.

    Chekhov looked down at the in Jane, feeling life was unbearable, having roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, she just wasn''t his type!

    -

 Chapter 37: Section 37 - Frightening Combat Power

    Justing out of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s three-story building, Chen Fei''s cellphone suddenly started ringing.

    "Ding Ling Ling Ling, Chef Abel is calling!"

    He had set automatic caller ID, so he could tell who was calling just by the ringtone.

    Chen Fei nced at the screen and sure enough, it was Chef Abel from the base canteen.

    "Little Chen, when are you free tonight? I need a hand!"

    Abel''s unique, rooster-like tone came through.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Chef Abel, what''s the matter?"

    Chef Abel was taken aback for a moment, then spoke even louder, "What? Did you forget? I told youst night, the scoundrel Pu Aihua was taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now it''s just me, and I''m swamped!"

    There was a hint of desperation in Abel''s voice.

    Thinking about it, it was easy to understand. With one kitchen hand gone, everything had to be handled by the chef personally.

    Chef Singh, originally an expert at unpacking, wasn''t too badly affected, but Chef Abel, who always looked down on those frozen pre-packed semi-finished products, felt this type of thing was an insult to the profession of a chef,

    Moreover, if even Abel started unpacking frozen packages, the Aircrew Base would likely not hesitate to fire him.

    If it''s all about unpacking anyway, why not hire two cheap, tool-like chefs instead?

    Once thepetition bes about who''s the worst, culinary skills can bepletely disregarded.

    "Uh! Alright, I''lle right away!"

    Chen Fei shook his head,pletely unable to remember what he had agreed to with Chef Abel after getting buzzedst night. Heading to the base canteen now would be a good chance to clear things up.

    When he arrived at the canteen''s kitchen, he saw Abel fretting over severalrge bags of flour and a big basket of potatoes.

    "Chef Abel, what do you need me to help with?"

    Seeing Chen Fei, Abel''s worried face immediately lit up as if he had found a lifeline, "Thank heavens, you''re finally here. Hurry, I need to prepare bread for tomorrow, as well as mashed potatoes. This is just part of the work. Now that I''m alone, I just can''t keep up. Don''t worry, I''ll teach you. It''s simple.

    What''s that on your head? An Alchemical Artifact?"

    "Leave it to me! This is ''Ayr''s Ring,'' something the doctor gave me. It''s supposed to be some sort of medical device. I don''t quite get it," said Chen Fei, poking the high-tech headband on his head with his finger, before rolling up his sleeves and asking, "Which should I start with?"

    Between friends, you help me, I help you. Today, he had carried the Little Bird for someone else all day, and now it was time to repay the favor, to lend a hand.

    Reciprocity is the way tosting rtionships.

    "You need to change into a clean set of clothes first. I happen to have one¡­ Look out!"

    Before Chef Abel could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed.

    A shrill scream echoed in the kitchen.

    "Damn you, die! Ahh!~"

    Boom!~~~~

    Sanjani, who had failed his interview with the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, suddenly burst into the kitchen, swung his fist at Chen Fei, and was promptly knocked out cold, stumbling and staggering out of the kitchen.

    Chen Fei looked with confusion at the "stick" he had reflexively caught, involuntarily gasping in shock.

    The faint aroma of wheat was in the air; the thing was a loaf of bread.

    He gave it a swing. Honestly, it felt pretty good in hand.

    Outside the kitchen door, Sanjani shook his head to clear it and then roared back in.

    "Die! Ow!~"

    Boom!~

    It was as if history was repeating itself.

    The fighting prowess of Sanjani and his kin always managed to give both allies and enemies a good scare.

    And still, he dared toe out and fight; it was truly frightening!

    Seeing Chef Abel''s face twitch with a mix of exasperation and hesitation, Chen Fei sheepishly ced the "stick" back where it belonged, after all, it was food, not a weapon.

    Several of these "stick" breads were slotted into a basket woven from vines.

    "No worries, I''ll go talk with him. Watch Little Jiu for me," said Chen Fei as he handed over the bird and apologized to Abel, preparing to step outside the kitchen to reason with the friend reeking of curry.

    We should strive for a war of words, not fists; we should seek to convince with virtue. Violence can''t solve problems; it can only solve those who cause problems.

    "Please, as you wish!"

    Abel seemed a bit scared and after taking the Little Bird, he petted it affectionately and then made a small hand gesture.

    This was a personal grudge, and it wasn''t easy for him to get involved.

    Ping ping!... "Awooo!"... Bang! Thud!... "Ah!"... "Uh!"...

    p p p... "Spare me! I was wrong!"... p p p...

    After a vigorous and refreshing exercise, Chen Fei finally stopped, twisted his waist, shook his neck, rotated his wrists, and his body crackled with a series of crisp sounds.

    Refreshing... Refreshing my ass!!!

    He couldn''t help but shiver, and as he looked at the guy sprawled on the ground, barely breathing in and not breathing out, he suddenly realized he didn''t know when he had be so violent.

    Once Chen Fei went crazy, even he was scared of himself.

    He had clearly intended to reason with the other party, but now it had turned into "reasoning"!

    A round of crisp apuse came from afar. Under the nearby lights, Chekhov, apanied by several pilots, walked over pping their hands.

    "I''m very satisfied, extremely satisfied, Rookie. You have passed the final test!"

    The final... test?

    Lil'' Chen was utterly confused. He looked around, where was the test?

    What the hell was this Big Bear talking about?

    "Don''t understand?" Chekhov smirked confidently, pointed at Sanjani who was still moaning on the ground, and said, "He was your final exam question!"

    Then he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscr arms, squeezed his fist tightly, making the muscle lines even more pronounced.

    He shed a set of white teeth and said fiercely, "Pilots must have courage, and never easily admit defeat!"

    Not long after humans had Aircraft, one-on-one Aerial Combat soon emerged. Where there are people, there is Jianghu, where there is Jianghu, there are conflicts¡ªeven the imaginative and serene skies couldn''t escape this fate.

    Initially, the confrontations were mostly ceremonial flight performances. After getting tired of flying, they wouldnd together, share a drink, chat a bit, sigh about the peaceful times, and then everyone would go their separate ways, each returning to their respective homes.

    But then, both sides gradually became more heated. Pilots who wanted to fly nes also had to learn how to fire Pistols¡ªpew pew pew, a fierce barrage, unlocking more and more positions, not just solo flying, but duo and even trio flying.

    "..."

    Chen Fei was now in his Sage mode, not wanting to say a word.

    Ignoring the self-righteous Big Bear, he turned around and headed back to the kitchen of the cafeteria.

    "The little Rookie actually has some temper? Hahahaha!"

    But Chekhov wasn''t angry; instead, he burst into a Big Laugh.

    Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron doesn''t ept any weak and easily bulliedmbs.

    "Help... me!"

    Sanjani, who had been severely thrashed, let out a weak cry for help.

    "Someone go find Takar and tell him toe collect the body!"

    Chekhov had no further interest in ncing at the unlucky fellow, leaving these words behind as he strode away.

    The abandoned Sanjani let out intermittently ghostly sobs.

    As soon as Chen Fei returned to the kitchen, Chef Abel sized him up and down before asking, "Little Chen, are you alright?"

    Chen Fei casually replied, "I''m fine!"

    For some reason, he felt strangely ted. That Sanjani had actuallye asking for a beating; the guy really asked for it.

    "Good, good, as long as you''re fine. Let''s continue; we need to hurry!"

    Chef Abel not only returned Xiao Jiu to Chen Fei but also gave him a set of kitchen assistant''s clothes and then began to teach him how to bake bread, hand in hand.

    "The usual ratio for flour and liquid is 2:1, but my ''Baguettes'' use a secret recipe with a ratio of 2:0.8, which requires more effort to knead, keep kneading, an entire hour of kneading."

    Abel demonstrated the technique of kneading dough with his hands, detailing every step.

    Chen Fei figured that this technique applied to Sanjani could send the guy straight to the Ganges River in minutes, earning him a good Dalit birth in the next life.

    "... to make a perfect ''Baguettes'', you first need a starter. It''s not just about yeast; today, I''ll teach you a method called the ''Polish Kind.'' ''Polish Kind'' needs to be prepared at least six hours in advance, and I''ve already ced it in the fridge."

    Chef Abel led Chen Fei to the big refrigerator in the kitchen, opened the fridge himself, searched high and low, and then, clutching his head, let out an earth-shattering scream.

    "Oh no!!!"

    "Chef Abel, what happened?"

    Chen Fei also got a huge fright, thinking something terrible had happened.

    -

 Chapter 38: Section 38 - Boiling Water Kind

    "''Polish, Polish, Polish Kind,'' I actually forgot to prepare it, damn it! It was always Pu Aihua who did it before. I thought I had done it, but... it still wasn''t done!"

    Chef Abel, frustrated by his own negligence, ripped off his tall chef''s hat and clenched it tightly in his hand.

    The time required for the "Polish Kind" is too long; starting from scratch now would bepletely toote.

    "Chef Abel, how about this, let''s change the kind? Or just add yeast directly, to make do on the fly."

    Chen Fei had heard Teacher Shen Fei ramble about the little tricks of bread making more than a few times.

    Even if he hadn''t eaten pork, he had at least seen a pig run¡ªhe knew a bit, including what the so-called "Polish Kind" was all about.

    The "Polish Kind" was nothing more than a refrigerated fermentation starter. This small pre-fermented dough under low temperatures could, to a certain extent, enhance the overall taste of the bread.

    Chef Abel rejected the idea without question, "Change kind? How to change? Which kind to change to? No no no, my ''Baguettes'' must use the ''Polish Kind.'' Adding yeast directly is even worse; that would ruin my reputation!"

    Then he paced anxiously in ce.

    As time ticked away by the second, Chen Fei was not ready to give up and tentatively said, "How about ''water roux''?"

    "Ah? What the hell is ''water roux''?"

    Abel was momentarily stunned, searching through his mind and realizing he had never heard of such a "kind".

    "I have a friend who is a teacher; she is great at baking. She taught me that bread made with ''water roux'' is fluffy and tasty, really fragrant and delicious."

    Chen Fei spoke from experience, with utter sincerity, guaranteeing the truth of his words.

    Teacher Shen Fei''s little bread had a simple mix of ingredients¡ªflour, eggs, butter, milk powder, and yeast¡ªbut the bread she made was fluffy and soft, with a rich wheat aroma apanied by the fragrant smell of milk that made people crave for more, so much so that he once identally ate a whole metal wing nut.

    "Fluffy, no no no, my ''Baguettes'' are firm!"

    Abel was a stubborn chef, sticking to his recipe, unwilling to make any changes.

    Chen Fei once again brought two "sticks" and nked them against each other in his hands.

    ng! ng!

    A clear shing sound was unmistakable; this was truly crazy.

    Didn''t he have any idea?

    To even dare call this thing bread?

    Are you serious?

    "..."

    Chef Abel''s gaze grew distant, his face flushed shyly, and he modestly said, "Paired with my Gaulish thick soup, it will be absolutely delicious."

    These two "sticks" were along the same lines as themb soup buns¡ªwithout themb soup, the bun is also a weapon.

    "Then let''s change the way we eat it, my ''Baguettes,'' not yours."

    Chen Fei gradually took the upper hand.

    His racial talent wasing into y.

    "Cheese fondue?"

    Chef Abel''s eyes lit up. All he had been stubbornly defending was his own "Baguettes"¡ªnow Chen Fei''s words had led him to leap out, as if unlocking the door to a whole new world, silly pig!~

    "Uh! You could add some stuff!"

    Chen Fei thought, don''t keep running down themb soup buns'' path to oblivion, hurry up ande over to the donkey meat sandwich side.

    "That''s doable, how about truffle? Add some caviar too, yes yes yes, white truffle and caviar is a perfect match."

    Abel began to daydream, letting his imagination run wild.

    "How about stinky tofu? It can supplement vitamin B12, and prevent dementia in old age."

    Chen Fei felt that Chef Abel was drifting off, forgetting his station and daring to even think about truffle and caviar¡ªso he couldn''t help but retort.

    Poisoning the wellte at night was only fair.

    "... Ugh!"

    Abel was indeed grossed out, rushing over to the sink and retching several times before he recovered, turning back with a grimace, frustratedly saying, "Chen Fei, you did that on purpose!"

    Chen Fei said with a smile, "If you don''t like stinky tofu, then let''s do sausages, beef, and vegetables. As for the white truffle and caviar, perhaps you should ask Manager Morris first."

    "Then forget it, let''s go with your idea¡ªsausages, beef, vegetables, and we still have some pickles in the kitchen."

    Chef Abel seemed to have sobered up, realizing that if he truly went to look for the executive manager as foolishly as he imagined, he''d likely be fired on the spot.

    But that stinky tofu hurdle was just insurmountable!

    "All done, let''s start by boiling the water, it needs to be rolling boil!"

    Chen Fei got busy, setting up a pot, and cranked the heat to boil the water. Then he scooped several shovelfuls of flour, pouring in corn oil, butter, and sugar, and began vigorously stirring the mixture in a stainless steel bowl.

    It didn''t take long for the water to boil, burbling and bubbling as it was poured into the mixed oily flour paste, followed by another round of stirring, turning it into an even thinner batter.

    "Boiling water kind" done!

    Chef Abel watched Chen Fei''s series of actions dumbfounded, ending with a product somewhat simr to "Polish Kind" but thinner.

    "Next, we''ll start the dough-making process. How much flour do we need?"

    Chen Fei put the stainless steel bowl with the "boiling water kind" aside and looked at Chef Abel.

    "Twenty kilograms should be enough."

    Chef Abel led Chen Fei to a dough mixer machine.

    Pouring "boiling water kind," water, milk powder, butter, a dozen eggs crackling away, two ten-kilogram bags of whole wheat bread flour, sprinkling yeast dissolved in water, dough conditioners, and setting the timer for 1 hour.

    "Alright, it''s time for the potatoes!"

    Chef Abel pped his hands and walked over to a big crate of potatoes that had been moved out from the cold storage.

    Chen Fei nced at the dough mixer nking away, then back at Chef Abel, and finally looked at his own hands.

    What happened to the promised kneading technique, and you end up showing me this?

    The legend of high-ss cuisine instantly shattered the illusion.

    Chen Fei didn''t even need to peel the potatoes himself; his job was to roughly brush them under the tap with a brush and then dump them into a potato-peeling machine, waiting for each soft, pink potato to be peeled and dispatched.

    Slicing, cutting into strips, or shredding¡ªthere were specialized machines for all that.

    Full manual processing wasn''t even an option; machines were more cost-effective.

    The peeled potatoes were steamed vigorously in a steaming cab, then mashed, shaped into potato cakes using a molding press, sprinkled with dry flour, and left to be fried as dawn approached. Dipped in a bit of salt and pepper, they were an excessively fragrant first-ss treat.

    After assigning Chen Fei his tasks, Chef Abel busied himself with his own work. The kitchen was filled with the noises of banging and nging for a full hour before finally taking a brief respite.

    By then, the dough in the mixer had sessfully formed a gluten film and was kneaded into long strips by Chef Abel and Chen Fei together. They lined up the strips onrge baking trays, stacking them in the big oven, and started the automatic proofing and baking program, whichsted two hours in total.

    The bakery''srge oven could bake a hundred "Baguettes" at once, and after cooling off by morning, they''d be ready to serve at breakfast.

    An entire "Baguette" required several people to share, and twenty kilograms of whole wheat flour could produce eighty "Baguettes." Considering that not everyone would opt for bread, this quantity was just right to serve over two hundred people across the base.

    They kept busy until midnight, and by 12 a.m., all the ingredients necessary for breakfast were finally prepared.

    After cing thest freshly baked new-style "Baguette" on the stainless steel cooling rack, Chen Fei dusted off his hands, ready to bid Chef Abel farewell.

    Chef Abel handed him a "Baguette" and arge chunk of stewed beef, winked, and said, "Come early tomorrow, help me out for two hours each day, and I''ll pay you... I''ll pay you... two hundred, not a penny more."

    It might not have been enough money, but there were always perks in the kitchen. With the chef''s authority, it didn''t really break any rules.

    Without Pu Aihua to assist him, he had no choice but to ask Chen Fei for help. It was a necessarypromise, and he probably still needed to confirm this expense with Morris Morgan, the executive manager at the Aircrew Base.

    Looking at the still-warm bread and beef in his hand, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate and said, "Deal!"

    A whole "Baguette" along with the beef was enough for two meals, and with a bit of saving, even three was not out of question.

    After finishing the small bread that Teacher Shen Fei gave him, his next meals were secured, and he had a little extra ie from the kitchen. Only a fool would refuse.

    As dawn broke, people started to arrive at the base''s mess hall.

    The brightest star of the 911 Aircrew Base, the mboyant Major Chekhov, arrived at the cafeteria surrounded by a crowd. The pilots didn''t need to pay for their own meals; it was buffet style, and they could take whatever they wanted.

    The raunchy Big Bear, as usual, casually took a "stick" in hand, waving it around while boasting brashly and obscenely.

    "Think of it, Chekhov has roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, seen countless women, and no girl could resist when they saw my big treasure sword, they were always ready to throw themselves into my arms..."

    As he spoke, the "big treasure sword" in his hand suddenly began to wobble and inexplicably went limp, flopping down dispiritedly.

    The room fell suddenly silent, then erupted into a roar ofughter, his bragging instantly deted.

    Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov''s face turned ashen.

    For over forty years I''ve roamed the Jianghu, and never have I been so embarrassed...

    -

 Chapter 39: Section 39 - Transport Ship Arrival

    "A:\\>dir"

    Enter!

    "A:\\>directory"

    ****/11/1112:21666update.bat

    666 bytes"

    "A:\\>update.bat"

    Enter!

    "download>>>>>>>>>>>>1%...5%..."

    zzzZZZ...

    Chen Fei swore he just checked it for a second and then knew nothing else.

    He slept until dawn, woken up by the rm clock.

    His vision was still cluttered:

    "Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    Illegal operation or incorrectmand

    ..."

    He didn''t dare to make any further moves.

    What on earth happenedst night?

    Dare not think, dare not think...

    His only constion was that he had a good night''s sleep, even without taking sleeping pills, and no unexined headaches.

    After washing up and grabbing something to eat, having fed the little bird a few energetic mealworms, Chen Fei left the dormitory with two pieces of bread and a whole chunk of stewed beef.

    Since there was no fridge, bread couldst a few days, but stewed meat couldn''tst long and had to be eaten quickly.

    He could always work at the canteen in the evening; Chef Abel wouldn''t let him lose out.

    Xiao Jiu flew around Chen Fei cheerfully, its flying ability changing daily¡ªnot only could it fly longer but also farther, sometimesnding on streetmps, sometimes on the nearby bushes, but quickly returning to perch on his shoulder, yfully pecking at his cor.

    Just as he approached Hangar 1, a figure suddenly sprang out, blocking Chen Fei''s path with a high-grade steel crowbar raised high, head and body wrapped in... Emmm... smelling the part.

    "Kid..."

    "Don''t block the way!"

    Bam!~

    Chen Fei saw Sanjani, whom he had beaten to a bruised and swollen face the night before, fly out like a kite with its string cut, drifting six to seven meters away before rolling on the ground several times, ending up as a pile of mush too stunned to move, gazing at the sky, beginning to question his life.

    Yikes!~ That looks rough!

    Chen Fei''s face showed sympathy.

    A towering figure walked out of the hangar, casually waving an arm as if swatting a fly.

    "Little Chen, did Squadron Leader Chekhov give you any trouble? If he dared, I''ll take you to reason with him."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming clenched his fist, which cracked.

    The mechanic was half Samoyed people, famous for their strength, and half of the same origin as Chen Fei. Chen Fei''s ancestors were also good at reasoning, but they used various methods, adapting to local conditions, and were not rigid.

    Last night, Chen Fei had "reasoned" with the guy currently lying on the ground just like this.

    It has to be said that the guy''s vitality was like a cockroach''s, only overnight he hade back to life, lively enough to pick up a crowbar and seek revenge, not very lethal but truly bothersome.

    "No, Squadron Leader Chekhov didn''t give me a hard time; I''ve already been selected."

    Chen Fei shivered and shook his head hastily.

    With Chief Mechanic Xiao''s size rivalling that of a big bear, if the two "reasoned" together, it would surely be a ground-shakingly explosive scenario, and that kind of reasoning would likely be man-to-man.

    Xiao Ming snorted and said, "It seems this guy finally learned his lesson after I beat some sense into him. Our maintenance crew isn''t to be trifled with."

    ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õ

    Chen Fei gaped at Chief Mechanic Xiao, realizing there was a lot of information in the big boss'' words.

    Could it be that Chief Xiao was the one who caught Chekhovst night with a bruised and swollen face?

    Chief Mechanic Xiao fought beautifully!

    Chief Mechanic Xiao fought splendidly!!

    Chief Mechanic Xiao fought so well that it deserves a round of apuse!!!

    Chen Fei had long wanted to punch that Big Bear, but given his ownbat power of just five, he was simply no match and had to swallow his anger. Unexpectedly, Big Brother Xiao avenged him and set an example by proving that he could not only repair nes but people as well.

    It was a pity he had not witnessed the scene firsthand, or he would have definitely thrown flowers and cheered for Big Brother Xiao, "One, two, three, four, hit him once more, beat that stinky bear to death."

    Xiao Ming seemed to have not noticed Chen Fei''s extremely surprised expression, as if he had just done something trivial, and continued speaking with his usual expression: "I''ve already informed Manager Morris, not just about Chekhov''s side, but also about the night shift apprentice job with the old man Neanderthal Barut. Have you made up your mind?

    If you want to earn more, you''ll have to work harder."

    Gratefully, Chen Fei said, "I''ve made my decision, thank you, Chief Mechanic Xiao."

    Watching one sheep or two is the same, considering he already took on jobs as a flyer for the Combat Flight Squadron and a two-hour helper for Chef Abel, adding a night shift at the Energy Tower isn''t too much either.

    During the day, he could juggle work with the mechanics group and the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, after work he could help in the kitchen, and then take over the night shift from the Neanderthal elder Barut. From a time perspective, there was no significant conflict, and it didn''t affect sleeping, but it left virtually no free time for oneself.

    For a poor man, probably only time is left to spare.

    Having the chance to exchange time for money, for Chen Fei who had deep debts and nothing to his name, was naturally very willing.

    Youth isn''t a time to indulge in pleasure, one should work more and save money while energetic¡ªeven if not in debt.

    "Chen¡­,"

    Sanjani, leaning on a crowbar, had managed to stand up shakily while Chen Fei and Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming were talking.

    An ominous shadow fell over them, and the sky darkened unexpectedly.

    Both the freshly risen Sanjani and Chief Mechanic Xiao, who was preparing to shoo away the annoying "fly," simultaneously looked up at the sky.

    The former let out a groan from the depths of his soul and began to scream heartbreakingly.

    "''Phantom Cube-366MAX'' Airship, it''s a heavy transport airship! Good heavens!!"

    Who would''ve thought he was truly an aviation enthusiast¡ªhe wasn''t boasting at all and could even name the model.

    Following the gaze of the two, Chen Fei also quickly opened his mouth wide in awe.

    "It''s huge!"

    Seeing something on a screen or in print simply couldn''tpare to witnessing it in person.

    Thisrge transport aircraft almost filled the entire sky, slowly approaching the ground, and a tremendous sense of oppression descended from above.

    The air being pushed in all directions turned into gusts of wind that made it almost impossible to keep one''s eyes open. Chen Fei quickly covered Little Bird on his shoulder, who was chirping anxiously, to shield it from being blown away by the sudden gale.

    "It''s finally here!"

    The head of the mechanics team, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming, remained as calm as ever, unfazed by the event.

    "Chief Mechanic, you knew about this beforehand?"

    Hearing Chief Mechanic Xiao''s words, Chen Fei turned around puzzled.

    Xiao Ming nodded and said, "It''s ssified. Only the executive manager and a few middle managers are privy to it. Go and inform them that Aircrew Base''s new fighter jets have arrived."

    "Right away!"

    Chen Fei sprinted towards Hangar No. 1.

    No sooner had he left than Sanjani, still clutching his crowbar, for some reason staggered toward the main runway, tripped after a few steps, and crashed to the ground, but as if oblivious to pain, he rolled over and got back up, continuing his rush forward.

    "Sanjani, what are you doing? Get the hell away from the runway now! Don''te close to the runway!"

    The control tower, closest to the main runway, quickly spotted this adrenaline-driven guy and started shouting through the loudspeaker.

    Nearest security personnel chased after him, furious and frantic.

    As they were chasing, and before anyone could react, a dozen meteors, shimmering with blue light, suddenly shot out from under therge transport aircraft and plummeted toward the ground.

    Just before hitting the ground, a visible st of air exploded from around them, and the meteorsnded smoothly. As the blue light faded, they revealed light grey exoskeleton Tactical Armor, each wielding a Railgun Combat Rifle, blocking Sanjani''s path.

    The 911 Aircrew Base security personnel who were pursuing Sanjani immediately slowed down, eyeing the fast-descending Airship Marine Corps soldiers with a mix of awe and uncertainty.

    This was a fully equipped tactical squad armed to the teeth.

    It was not a part of the Apocalypse Defense Group''s forces, nor did it belong to any military contractor; along with the slowly descending airship, they were part of the officialbat lineup.

    No wonder countries didn''t worry about military contractors rebelling. The arms and equipment avable to private enterprises were not just a generation behind that of a regr national defense army, and if they dared harbor any ulterior motives, they would be crushed into dust in minutes.

    "Raise your hands, don''t move!"

    Several thin green guidingser beamsnded on Sanjani, who had hastily stopped in his tracks, with at least four points of light on his forehead alone.

    -

 Chapter 40: Section 40 - Large-Scale Resupply

    With the maximum range of a railgunbat rifle, even if Sanjani ran for an hour, he would still be shattered with one shot, leaving no corpse intact.

    The moment Sanjani dared not move, he remembered the high-grade steel crowbar in his hand and hesitated whether to throw it away. Before he could make a decision, the rifle butt smashed down ruthlessly, and he screamed, only to be knocked to the ground immediately.

    The airship marine squad rushed up at once, pinning down his limbs before handcuffing him tightly, rendering him unable to move.

    The squad leader of the airship marines barked, "Name? Social Welfare Number? What were you trying to do?"

    Another rifle butt came down right after, making sure to suppress him first before further questioning.

    Sanjani @_@: "..."

    This unlucky kid was just beaten up by someonest night, and this morning, like a runaway kite, went tumbling over and over. His body was already frail, not having fully recovered, and now after being hit hard twice in quick session, he directly passed out.

    The squad leader confirmed this situation with astonishment, and then scoffed, unable to hide his annoyance.

    "Damn it! He passed out!"

    This is someone who calls himself an attacker?

    Was he here to cause trouble on purpose?

    Can''t he be a bit more professional?

    Belonging to this heavy transport airship, the Marine Squad had no strength left toin; it was all just a waste of emotions.

    The minor trouble resolved, the battleship''snding operation continued.

    For such a gigantic aircraft, taking off andnding are extremelyplex maneuvers and also the moments when it is most vulnerable.

    -

    Like a dark cloud obscuring the sun, the massive aircraft lowered itsnding gear and settled steadily near the main runway of Aircrew Base 911.

    The "Magic Cube" in Phantom Cube-366MAX refers to the anti-gravity field generated ording to Magic Cube Law as the main propulsion engine, the number "366" represents the 366-meter length of the ship, and MAX indicates its heavy transport capacity. It is a heavy transport airship, nonbat in nature.

    If anyone thought it was an easy target like a fat sheep, the elite Marine Corps and the defense weapon systems carried by the airship would handily beat them up, leaving them regretting their arrival in this world.

    Though ssified as nonbat transport aircraft, this is rtive; the Phantom Cube-366MAX''s primary role is transporting materials, and it does not mean that itcksbat capability.

    Apocalypse Defense Group, a private military contractor, rented a Phantom Cube-366MAX heavy transport airship from the government at a considerable cost. On the one hand, it delivered a massive amount of supplies and newbat aircraft to Aircrew Base 911 and, on another hand, it was for the transport of collected Metallic Dragon remains.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group immediately went to great lengths to dig three feet into the ground right under the battle airspace of the same day. Despite consuming a significant amount of manpower, resources, and time, they harvested an extremely rich bounty by collecting nearly all of the Metallic Dragon remains.

    This huge benefit could not be monopolized; naturally, the Apocalypse Defense Group, backing Aircrew Base 911, would take the lion''s share, while the military contractors behind other aircrew bases that dispatchedbat aircraft to the battle would get a small cut.

    Those who ate meat, drank soup, everyone was happy; no one felt their effort was in vain, except for the Lin Family who returned empty-handed.

    If Sky Knight "Death Tracer" Lin Ziyong had arrived just a minute earlier, the result could have beenpletely different.

    However, the Lin Family was indifferent to "eating meat and drinking soup"; they were already on good terms with the Cangqiong Realm, and even the Metallic Dragon n, sharing close exchanges, notcking exclusive scarce resources from the Metallic Dragon n, especially the priceless SEG core unit.

    Other forces that couldn''t even sip the soup couldn''t help but feel envious and might take action, overtly or covertly, to fight over it.

    Apocalypse Defense Group was of course not without preparation. The fact that they were willing to spend 12 million Star Yuan on a First Rank magic potion, "Life Resuscitation," to save Chen Fei was not merely a reward for his ying of the Metallic Dragon. There was another intention.

    A living witness would certainly be more beneficial to Apocalypse Defense Group''s most powerful proof of ownership of the Metallic Dragon remains.

    The 12 million Star Yuan for the magic potion was almost negligiblepared to the hundreds of billions of Star Yuan worth of Metallic Dragon remains, yet it could save a lot of disputes and unnecessary expenses, undoubtedly making it a very cost-effective deal.

    Moreover, magic potions are easy toe by, all it takes is money, and they are always avable.

    While the Metallic Dragons are impulsive, reckless, arrogant, cruel,zy, and so terrifying when crazed that even they fear themselves, and despite a myriad of ws, they aren''t stupid. Wouldn''t it be "Genuine Fragrance" for them to just stay peacefully within the "Halo" of the Dimensional Gate on the Cangqiong Realm side, waiting to be fed?

    Nobody expected that, out of the blue, a Metallic Dragon would have a brain fart and, for a downright ludicrous reason that was nheless very much in line with their capricious nature, it decided to leave the "Halo" of Cangqiong Realm and came to Blue Star Realm. This brazen act undoubtedly breached the agreed-upon treaty between the two realms.

    After descending from the sky, this Metallic Dragon was immediately attacked. Even the Metallic Dragon n and the current Dragon King couldn''t object, knowing full well that Metallic Dragons are among the most aggressive but are also extremely adept at courting death¡ªinept at everything else, they take the prize for seeking their own demise, serving as the epitome of fragility.

    For a hundred thousand years, the Metallic Dragon n has been dwindling in numbers, with their lineage nearly extinct¡ªapart from the scarcity of food, much of their decline is due to their own doings, and they have no one else to me.

    The very moment the interloper Metallic Dragon breached the atmosphere of the Blue Star Realm, its status shifted instantaneously to prey, an urrence as rare as winning the lottery jackpot.

    When fortune rained down upon the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, it would first exhaust its ammunition, weary its pilots, damage itsbat aircraft... It wasn''t just one Aircrew Base that spotted this flying billion Star Yuan bounty; they all eagerly took to the skies, and even the Lin Family, guardians of the Blue Star Realm airspace, were alerted and dispatched a rather famous Sky Knight.

    However, the oue took everyone by surprise¡ªa Rookie, a Dragon yer Missile, emerged on top amid the chaos of the battle.

    Big Bear Chekhov once asked, "Doth thou also practice archery? Is mine archery not precise?"

    The Rookie replied, "Nothing special, just itchy hands!"

    The opportunity to kill a Metallic Dragon is not easily found, and the value of even a dead Metallic Dragon is enough to make everyone envious.

    To ensure the remains of the Metallic Dragon were truly secured, a Heavy Transport Airship backed by official endorsement from Apocalypse Defense Group was the best guarantee.

    The underbelly cargo hatch of the sessfullynded Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Battleship slowly slid open, deploying a ramp down to the ground.

    With lights as bright as daylight, and the engine roaring loudly inside the ship, one after another, specialized transport vehicles lined up like a dragon, orderly moving outrge standard containers.

    The reserved space at the Aircrew Base 911 quickly umted into little hills of containers.

    Apocalypse Defense Group did not waste the transport capacity of this airship in vain, delivering enough supplies in one go to sustain Aircrew Base 911 for several years.

    Of course, the airship''s main mission was to carry away the collected remains of the Metallic Dragon; otherwise, Apocalypse Defense Group would not have so readily shelled out such arge sum for transport. With the costs now spread, they could save substantially on material transport expenses.

    The unloading operationsted an entire day. The location of Aircrew Base 911 was originally a leveled mountaintop,

    and as the number of stacked containers grew, the once spacious base gradually became crowded.

    Inside Hangar 1, Chen Fei was still furiously studying the technical manual for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster," while his fellow maintenance team members were busy unpacking.

    Thanks to the ample transport capacity of the Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Battleship, the jet fighters and light propeller attack aircraft supplied to Aircrew Base 911 by Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters were shipped whole, bypassing even the assembly processes to save space, and were directly towed from the airship''s cargo hold and delivered into the two hangars.

    Chen Fei''s time in the hangar was divided into two parts: mornings with the maintenance team and afternoons with the Combat Flight Squadron.

    In fact, this wasn''t much different from his university days¡ªstudying and taking notes in the morning, attending sses in the afternoon.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, nicknamed "Devil Pepper," the short-haired girl Irinei Rusios became his flight instructor.

    Before he finished devouring the "Big Mouth Monster''s" technical manual, Irinei Rusios probably wouldn''t let this Rookie actually take the ne up for a test flight.

    After all, flying is a very serious and earnest skill; you can''t just flip through the manual, push the stick, and y for two seconds.

    That''s not flying, that''s suicide.

    Get serious, you''re about to soar!

    For a novice, the biggest challenge of flying isn''t executing various maneuvers in the sky, but rather how to take off andnd safely¡ªto ascend joyfully to the heavens and return securely to the ground.

    -

 Chapter 41: Section 41 - Mission Objectives of the Aircrew Base

    In order to cater to the almostpletely inexperienced "rookie" Chen Fei, the deputy leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron and veteran pilot Irinei Rusios even prepared teaching materials, tapping a small stick against the LCD teaching board, making a snapping sound as she highlighted the key points.

    "...Centered around Aircrew Base 911, with a patrol andbat radius extending 500 kilometers around, you''ve read the technical manual and should know that the actualbat radius of the ''Big Mouth Monster'' is not limited to this distance.

    Now look around 911, to the east there''s 912, to the west 910, to the south 909, and to the north 913, the base numbering follows a pattern of even numbers horizontally and odd vertically. This is the grid-like patrol and defense system of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, where each Aircrew Base has its own patrol area, as well as the obligation to support neighboring bases.

    So, 500 kilometers is a very reasonable figure, allowing for fuel reserves needed for the ''Big Mouth Monster'' to support other aircrew bases. Despite the long cruising time of the light turboprop aircraft, you still need to keep a constant eye on the fuel reserves.

    If the fuel is exhausted, don''t panic, as the ''Big Mouth Monster'' uses a statically stable aerodynamic design, which allows for a glidingnding in emergency situations, provided you find anding site that is as t as possible. An open grassy field is the best choice, preferably over two hundred meters in length."

    After circling the key points, the short-haired girl saw Chen Fei raise his right hand and asked, "Any questions?"

    Chen Fei curiously asked, "I want to know what the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron''s mainbat targets are. Metallic Dragons, or those bandits?"

    He had personally blown up a Metallic Dragon, almost costing him his own life.

    Suchbat targets were truly terrifying. Without a powerful weapon like the Dragon yer Missile, it wouldn''t matter if it were just Aircrew Base 911 or even if thebat flight squadrons from several other bases joined in.

    In front of the ferociously brutal Dragon of ughter, it would still be no different than sendingmbs to the ughter, and there would be no oue other than total annihtion.

    Chen Fei had heard from Teacher Shen Fei at the nearby Patan Elementary School that bandits roamed this area. He found it strange, wondering if the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was essentially a huge banditir that required multiple air bases to work together to maintain basicw and order.

    If that were the case, it seemed that Teacher Shen Fei, who stayed here to support the education in remote mountainous areas, was always in danger and could have faced unexpected incidents at any time.

    "Metallic Dragons? Bandits? Hahaha..."

    It was as if she had heard a very funny joke. Irinei Rusios, with her hands on her defined waistline,ughed out loud.

    Seeing Chen Fei baffled by herughter and wearing a face full of confusion, she shook her head and said, "Metallic Dragons are an ident. If our mission targets were always such terrifying foes, sorry, but we''d have to switch to fighter jets, only Crystal Jets would be able to handle them, and we''d have to be paid more!"

    Not all pilots are capable of handling a Crystal Jet, which is the dividing line between pilots and Sky Knights.

    If it hadn''t been for two MiG-28 jet fighters being blown up by a Dragon Spike before they could even take off, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron wouldn''t have had such a hard time when facing the Metallic Dragons.

    After all, relying solely on the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft ¡ª abat aircraft designed for ground targets ¡ª was a bit too much of a strain.

    Moreover, the sry of thebat flight squadron was far from enough to keep them risking their lives like this; the real danger pay wasn''t even close to their rate.

    But in the end, they didn''t lose out. After the Dragon yer Missile KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile sessfully blew up the Metallic Dragon, the entire ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron received a substantial bonus.

    Even other departments benefited, each receiving an additional three months'' sry as a collective reward.

    An outstandingbat team needs the unconditional full support of an equally outstanding logistics team to perform at one hundred percent capacity.

    With high rewardses bravery; with the right amount of money, everything is negotiable.

    Chen Fei nodded in understanding, feeling a sense of agreement.

    If someone offered him ten million Star Yuan, he would still dare to charge at the Metallic Dragons with a Dragon yer Missile for an act of mutual annihtion, so the words of the ''Devil Pepper'' spicy teacher made perfect sense.

    However, if we were to sh with the Metallic Dragons every day, neither the Metallic Dragon n nor the Human Race could withstand it. It would be mutually harmful, a situation where both sides would suffer¡ªany craziness on either side could prove deadly.

    Irinei Rusios mentioned another point, saying, "Neither our 911 Aircrew Base nor the other aircrew bases will pay attention to the bandits in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. Generally, the well water does not vite the river water. So, these bandits are not our target; our targets are..."

    The image on the liquid crystal teaching board changed, and a dozen or so phantoms appeared.

    Taking advantage of the tide, the focus shifted again!

    "Uncontrolled otherworldly creatures and mutants!"

    The liquid crystal teaching board was tapped again with a small stick, making a snapping sound.

    "Let''s start with otherworldly creatures. There are two types of loss of control. The mostmon is the uncontrolled proliferation of a species, simr in nature to invasive species. In the process of exchange with the Cangqiong Realm, through various channels, these beings have been introduced into the natural environment of the Blue Star Realm.

    Due to ack of supervision, without natural predators, and unable to form new ecological food chains, not only otherworldly creatures, given enough time, any species would reproduce explosively at a geometric rate, leading to overpoption.

    Most otherworldly creatures that tend to cause poption imbnces are of small size, primarily including creatures such as armored scale pigs, six-toothed swine, blue moon rabbits, wind lice, heart-eating butterflies, rock spike fish, and gold-eating ants¡ªa total of fifty-seven small otherworldly creatures and neen medium-sized ones.

    They often possess some magical elemental affinity and a few rtively simple magical skills. Wind lice and rock spike fish frequently appear in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, and asionally you might see six-toothed swine and armored scale pigs.

    The second type involves the behavior of uncontroble otherworldly creatures, including highly intelligent magical beasts, those that break free of safety constraints or exhibit aggressive behavior towards humans."

    Instances of uncontroble behavior of magical beasts only urred in densely popted areas, usually involving medium torge magical beasts, and they were often instigated by someone being foolish, provoking the creatures that possess a certain level of intelligence.

    Whether it''s the Cangqiong Realm or the Blue Star Realm, highly intelligent magical beasts willing to register their identity information with the human civil affairs departments and pass special assessments may enjoy certain citizen rights, such as education, employment, and healthcare.

    It''s not umon to see magical beasts working in human society in both realms, and some even be hosts for TV channels, thriving in their careers.

    Even animals like chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, cats, dogs, pigs, horses, sheep, cows, monkeys, dolphins, and orcas can earn a living in human society after training, enjoying various benefits.

    Those magical beasts withparatively higher intelligence, even to the extent of speaking humannguage andmunicating normally, face even less difficulty in integrating, and humans tend to ept and treat them as equals.

    For intelligent species, differences in physical appearance do not be barriers tomunication, and species discrimination is never tolerated.

    "Mutants are a rather troublesome matter, and there isn''t just one cause for their urrence; they can broadly be attributed to three categories. The first type are radiation-induced mutants¡ªthirty years ago, the Fusion War made extensive use of nuclear weapons, whose residual radiation catalyzed the emergence of arge number of mutant creatures, including humans.

    The second type is interbreeding mutants¡ªwhere a small amount of reproductive-capable mutants interbreed, either among themselves, with normal Blue Star native species, or with otherworldly creatures. In any case, the offspring produced are mutants.

    The third type concerns natural mutations that arise as otherworldly creatures adapt to the environment of Blue Star, or when Blue Star''s native speciese into contact with the Magic Element. Although most natural mutations are benign, some unforeseen manifestations may arise. With mutants, our consistent policy is to prevent mistakes as much as possible but never to let them slip through."

    As the short-haired Irinei Rusios continued with her incessant introduction, phantoms materialized one after another on the liquid crystal teaching board, revealing their distinctly terrifying real forms, akin to demons and monsters.

    Then, the page refreshed over and over again, disying all the known uncontrolled otherworldly creatures and mutants within the Blue Star Realm, an rming array of species. And these didn''t even include the myriad of deadly microorganisms that sprouted like bamboo after a rain following the great battle thirty years prior.

    Chen Fei frowned at the sight of those otherworldly creatures with appearances vastly different from Blue Star''s native species. He continued asking, "Are there mutants in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area as well?"

    Otherworldly creatures at least evolved naturally, although they might be a bit unsightly. But those bizarrely shaped mutants were so hideous that they were unbearable to look at.

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Range was clearly not as simple as Chen Fei had previously understood. The local, belligerent mountain people armed to the teeth had to deal with more than just the bandits who roamed andmitted crimes. There were also those uncontrolled otherworldly creatures and mutants.

    Thinking about how he had trekked almost three hours on foot from Patan Elementary School to the 911 Aircrew Base, he realized he had quite some nerve. No wonder Teacher Shen Fei insisted on lending him a gun for self-defense¡ªthe dangers in the wild mountains likely involved more than just wolves and bandits.

    -

 Chapter 42: Section 42 - Flyers Games

    ```

    Irinei Rusios was very certain as she said, "A massive mutant disaster erupted twenty years ago, leading to theplete abandonment of the Gem Valley in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

    Otherworldly creatures often have a very strong sense of territory, even if their numbers are out of control, their behavioral patterns can usually be predicted and judged based on their habits, making them rtively easier to clear out. However, mutants possess a considerable degree of unpredictability, making them very difficult to search for and eradicate.

    They are typically more troublesome to deal with, especially the Hive mutants. If we''re not careful, their numbers can be unmanageable. Yet often, mutants and other beings end up as hostile groups, particrly when their territories ovep with those of otherworldly creatures, leading to relentless battles between them."

    The short-haired girl preparing to be Chen Fei''s flight instructor had a very detailed teaching n. After introducing the main cleaning targets of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, she began ying a carefully edited selection ofbat case studies on the LCD teaching board.

    *February 14th, cleanup operation, Target: Mutant, Type "Hive X-19", social group-dwelling, location*, number of primary breeding females 1, breeding males 3, guard individuals 34, foraging individuals 277; Tactical arrangement: ...

    ; Mission assessment: Complete annihtion, no one left behind; Tactical summary: Using Dizzy Bombs inbination with small Cloud Bombs has a better effect, suggesting the addition of Type-5 Disabling Bombs (loud noise, sh, foul smell, extreme bitterness, concussion) to interfere with the five senses.

    *April 17th, cleanup operation, Target: Mutant, codename "Lone Roach", solitary type, quantity 1; Tactical arrangement: ... ; Mission assessment: Sessful kill; Tactical summary: For high-mobility ground targets, suggest continuous deployment of Type-5 Disabling Bombs followed by a nket with Cluster Bombs, White Phosphorus Bombs, and rockets likely to achieve better results.

    *July 6th, cleanup operation, Target: Otherworldly Creature Spiny Rockfish (small Earth Elemental Magical Beast), codename "Fish Group 3", small group roaming, quantity 143; Tactical arrangement: ...

    ; Mission assessment: Sessful kill; Tactical summary: Target is an organism active inside rocks, body is fragile, Ground-Prating Thermobaric Bombs are quite targeted, suggesting request for high-yield Ground-Prating Thermobaric Bombs for nket bombardment.

    *August 2nd, cleanup operation, Target ...

    ...

    ording to the realbat cases yed on the LCD teaching board, the missionpletion rate of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron was nearly 100%.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft typically targets terrestrial otherworldly creatures and mutants, where often a single High-Explosive Bomb can turn them instantly into ash. For targets that are well-hidden or have tougher skins, they''d directly deploy Cloud Bombs or even Thermobaric Bombs to ensure a saturated strike for assured destruction.

    asionally, they would encounter aerial targets, where air-to-air missiles woulde into y, swiftly resolving the threat beyond visual range.

    The flying species of otherworldly creatures and mutants are after all not Giant Dragons; whether it be flying speed and attack methods, or defense capabilities, they fall far short inparison and cannot withstand the full power of modern Firearms. Pilots can easily collect their mission bonuses.

    While intelligent drones could handle most of the duties of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, they have always had issues with mutant recognition rates and are susceptible to various electromaic interferences.

    Some dense mutant areas could even cause remote control devices to lose control inexplicably, and the purchase cost, flight cost, and armament cost of drones are not at all inexpensive.

    The morebor-saving the gadget, the more expensive it is; it''s always been this way.

    Compared to the factory price ofbat drones, the mass-provided, fully-equipped A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft is even cheaper, with a factory price not much more than a high-end sports car, and a likewise low hourly flight cost, giving it an overall cost-effectiveness that far surpasses that of drones.

    The MiG-28 Jet Fighter, though not cheap and almost worth two "Big Mouth Monsters", boastsbat efficiency far above that of drones, making it the kind of good steel for the cutting edge.

    In unexpected encounters that require going all out against the Dragon of ughter, drones are basically of no use, leaving only pilots to step up to the challenge.

    The folks at the Blue Star and 911 Aircrew Base, along with the neighboring bases, had the misfortune of hitting this special jackpot, with an urrence so rare that the odds are hardly higher than winning the lottery.

    A couple of taps on the ckboard made it clear to Chen Fei what the daily missions of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron entailed: to search for out-of-control otherworldly creatures and mutants roaming the Kush Mountain Range, identify the targets, and thenunch an airstrike topletely eliminate them to prevent future troubles.

    All these were aftereffects of the great war that took ce thirty years ago and side effects of close interactions between two realms. As long as the Dimensional Gate remains open, invasions by otherworldly creatures are inevitable. If they don''te today, they maye tomorrow; it''s just a matter of time.

    If otherworldly creatures and mutants were left unchecked, they could easily formrge-scale troubles that would eventually be unmanageable, and also cause damage to the natural environment.

    Using Nuclear Weapons for cleanup might act as a quick fix, deciding the matter with one stroke, but it could never be a permanent solution and would instead create endless future problems.

    Therefore, in sparsely popted areas around the world, aircrew bases like 911 are scattered about, conducting regr patrols and cleanups to keep these potential threats within a certain safety threshold.

    And in densely popted economic zones and frequently traveled nting areas, the ample human security forces alone are sufficient to maintain routine sweeping cleanups. The omnipresent surveince systems are extensive yet thorough, and human activity naturally repels the living space of other species, making the actual situation somewhat better.

    Moreover, not all small otherworldly creatures pose problems for the people of the Blue Star Realm. A few species have even established new symbiotic rtionships with humans, allowing for harmonious coexistence.

    "911 doesn''t have a flight simtor, so before you read the ''Big Mouth Monster'' technical manual, y with this!"

    Irinei Rusios brought over arge box and handed it to Chen Fei.

    ```

    "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s pilots are all seasoned drivers, each with a minimum of 500 hours of experience. They can fly as soon as they get on a ne, and there''s absolutely no such thing as training for rookies.

    If the Aircrew Base hadn''t been short-staffed and the Big Bear Squadron Leader hadn''t taken a shine to Chen Fei''s incredible luck, they would never havee up with the dodgy idea of internal recruitment.

    However, the entry-level difficulty of turboprop aircraft isn''t high, which is why executive manager Morris Morgan approved it so easily.

    "SVR helmet?"

    Chen Fei felt somewhat embarrassed.

    The model number on the packaging box seemed to be the same as the one used by the medical team''s stud doctor, William Jackson, which made him think of scandalous possibilities.

    "Yes, SVR, 3D vision, and I''ve prepared three flight games for you to practice. The other two boxes are the game console and the flight joystick kit, be careful not to break it."

    The SVR helmet is just an external audio-visual device, and Iline gave him two more boxes, as aplete rookie is not yet suited for direct machine operation.

    The three boxes stacked up like a pyramid in Chen Fei''s hands, and considering the Big Bear Squadron Leader''s lesson with an original AK-47, she gave an extra word of caution.

    The SVR helmet, game console, and flight joystick kit aren''t actually worth much, equivalent to Chen Fei''s full month''s sry, but ever since the crafty dealer Piao Aihua was caught by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there''s been no sign of him at all.

    Apart from this guy, no one else has a way to get a new set in this rugged, remote location.

    Compared to the straightforward and violent Deputy Squadron Leader Chekhov, co-deputy squadron leader and short-haired girl Irine Rusios is more meticulous in her work.

    If the former were to coach Chen Fei in flying, there''d be no point in practicing with games; just show off and learn by flying directly.

    Stacking up 30 hours of flight time, if he''s still alive by then, he definitely knows how to fly.

    If Big Bear was really designated as Chen Fei''s flight instructor, the aircraft maintenance and "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron might end up brawling.

    "Thank you, Deputy Squadron Leader Iline!"

    Chen Fei held the three boxes gratefully, and naturally, he would be extra careful.

    "Call me ''Devil Pepper'', Rookie!"

    Irine Rusios once again haughtily posed with her hands on her slim waist.

    A base security personnel stood outside the hangar door shouting, "Chen Fei from the maintenance team, someone''s looking for you!"

    "Who''s looking for me?"

    Chen Fei responded just as loudly.

    That security personnel pointed outside the door, seemingly in the direction of the apron.

    "Crafty Dealer!"

    -

 Chapter 43: Section 43 - Old Piao Went Home

    Who else could be called a "scoundrel" by everyone at the Aircrew Base?

    Of course, it was none other than the stuck-in-the-mud, Park Ae-hwa.

    After setting down the three boxes he had in hand, Chen Fei greeted the short-haired girl, "Devil Pepper" teacher, and hurriedly ran over.

    He had thought that the merchant had been executed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs already, yet now there was news about him again.

    "Jiu!~"

    Xiao Jiu pped its wings, flying above Chen Fei''s head.

    Not far from Hangar One, on the tarmac, Chen Fei indeed saw the disheveled, scruffy-bearded, deeply sunken-eyed, and haggard-looking scoundrel Pu Aihua, with arge duffel bag and a suitcase beside him.

    "Hey, Chen Fei!"

    Seeing Chen Feiing over, Pu Aihua mustered some energy, calling out with a somewhat hoarse voice.

    Obviously, his recent times had not been good.

    "Old Piao, are you okay? Without you, Chef Abel in the cafeteria is almost at his wits'' end."

    Chen Fei asked with concern¡ªit was not an empty statement.

    Mr. Chef, failing to find someone else to rece him and unwilling to be a simple package opener, tly conscripted Chen Fei, managing to get by only with his help.

    Chen Fei had to put in at least two hours in the kitchen every day; while it was somewhat hard work, the bit of money he earned was really quite sweet to him.

    "I know, I really appreciate it," Pu Aihua said, then bowed deeply to Chen Fei on the spot.

    Chen Fei quickly stopped him, saying, "No need, no need, I wasn''t working for free¡ªChef Abel pays me wages! The Ministry of Internal Affairs didn''t give you a hard time, did they?"

    Chen Fei looked around; not far off stood a few figures in ck suits, sporting sunsses¡ªclearly, they were those Ministry of Internal Affairs guys.

    "No, no, it''s nothing. It''s my own fault for being too greedy, and there are some things I shouldn''t have touched. I don''t me anyone else," Pu Aihua said with a bitter smile, continuously shaking his head.

    Taking small advantages in daily life wasn''t considered a big deal; even if thepany knew, they often chose to turn a blind eye, taking the stance of "where water flows, a channel will form," pretending not to see.

    But the Metallic Dragon remains were far too sensitive. Pu Aihua had just started to get an idea when the Ministry of Internal Affairs quickly zeroed in on him. They detained him immediately, interrogated him for over half a month, and finally let him go when they were sure he hadn''t seeded¡ªbut the incident was far from over.

    "Old Piao, where are you headed?"

    Chen Fei''s gaze fell on the two pieces of luggage beside Pu Aihua.

    "My contract has been terminated, and I''m going back with the airshipter. Oh, and I n to open a small restaurant when I return," said Pu Aihua as he sniffed and wiped the corner of his eyes. He fumbled on his person, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it over, adding, "This is my home address. If you have time in the future, you cane and visit.

    My daughter is very smart; she''s going to take the university entrance exam soon."

    Nowadays in the field of education, there was a tremendous divide, with only the best students having the privilege of attending university. Those who were less academically inclined had no second or third-tier universities to attend; they could only go to higher vocational-technical education, equivalent to a junior college degree.

    Hence, the value of university students had risen again¡ªit was no longer the case that undergraduates were a dime a dozen and PhDs asmon as dogs.

    No wonder every time Pu Aihua mentioned his daughter, his face beamed with pride. This sense of superiority was understandable, but the reason he racked his brains and exhausted all efforts to make money had its roots.

    On the one hand, it was to save for his daughter''s college tuition, and should she wish to pursue further education beyond the undergraduate level, the expenses wouldn''t be small.

    On the other hand, with talent oftenes hardship; his daughter had been ill for a long time, and to gather the exorbitant surgery fees and subsequent care costs, for a man already burdened with providing for his family, this weight was anything but light.

    "Okay! If I have time, I''ll definitely visit!"

    Chen Fei nced at the piece of paper in his hand¡ªan address in Goryeo Han River City, along with a contact number.

    "And also this, please be sure to ept it. I won''t need it anymore. Anything you want to buy here, it''s all listed on this," Pu Aihua said.

    Pu Aihua took out another small notebook and handed it to Chen Fei with great earnestness.

    The notebook was filled with names, phone numbers, addresses, and notes. It was essentially an address book, but Chen Fei knew its real value. It represented thework and channels Old Piao had built at the Aircrew Base.

    Snakes have their paths, and rats have their trails, even the most insignificant people still have their own special circles that can effortlessly aplish tasks that the powerful would pay a hefty price for.

    This little notebook meant that Pu Aihua had transferred his entirework at the base to Chen Fei without reserve. It might not be of much help, but it was still somewhat useful. If there were ever any questions, one might find some hints or even answers within this circle of rtionships.

    For a young person, thiswork could save a decade or more of effort in building simr connections.

    "Pu Aihua!"

    A loud roar came from not far.

    Chen Fei turned his head towards the sound and saw Chef Abel from the base''s canteen striding over. Without a word, Abel swung a fist at Pu Aihua, causing him to stagger back a few steps.

    Wincing, Pu Aihua steadied himself back on his feet, but he was not at all angry. Instead, he opened his arms and gave Abel a fierce hug.

    Perhaps a single embrace was enough to quench the chef''s fiery temper, as Abel finally said gruffly, "You scoundrel, what mischief have you gotten into now?"

    He could tell that Pu Aihua, who had already packed his bags, was about to leave the Aircrew Base.

    Though a bit of a swindler, Pu Aihua wasn''t inherently bad; at least, he didn''t exploit the equally impoverished neer, Chen Fei, but instead provided him with much assistance.

    "Hehehe, too greedy, too greedy."

    Pu Aihuaughed dryly. The hard times he had eaten recently were all due to his excessive greed.

    It was crossing the line that got him noticed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who detained him for over half a month. Only after confirming that he had merely entertained the thought without actually seeding in his scheme, was he released.

    Though he was released, he lost his job, as the Apocalypse Defense Group could not possibly allow an employee who hadmitted such an error to remain in his post. A termination of the employment contract was sent out without any need forpensation.

    "You bastard!"

    Chef Abelnded another punch on Pu Aihua. After all, he wasn''t the type to coolly turn his back the moment someone left. He added, "After you get back, if you run into any trouble, call me. Don''t y tough. You''ve said it yourself, having one more friend means having one more path to take, so why wouldn''t you walk it?"

    Given Pu Aihua''s age, in an economicallypetitive region, it might be difficult to find a job that pays well. He would probably have to rely on himself for an extended period. With a daughter at home who was seriously ill and urgently needed surgery, financial difficulties were inevitable, whether for tuition or surgery costs.

    At least Abel was a proper chef with both level and certification in the culinary circle, and he recognized a few fellow chefs. Perhaps by calling in a few favors and selling some face, he could help Old Piao sort out an urgent employment issue.

    Having worked in the canteen at the Aircrew Base for so long, he had be deeply familiar with the ins and outs of the kitchen, and certainlycked no rted experience. He could start working immediately given the opportunity.

    "Thank you, thank you!"

    Pu Aihua''s eyes grew somewhat moist as he held onto Abel''s hand, nodding vigorously.

    The ones who allow you to trouble them are your true friends.

    "Pu Aihua, ready to go!"

    The Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel nearby received a signal from the "Luo Jing Number" heavy Transport Airship.

    "Little Chen, Chef Abel, I''m leaving!"

    No matter how reluctant he was to leave this ce where he had worked for many years, Pu Aihua''s time here was running short.

    All feasts muste to an end, and the time to leave had arrived.

    Pu Aihua looked back three times with each step he took, but as he neared the heavy Transport Airship, he suddenly turned around and shouted, "Little Chen, that bird egg isn''t a Magical Beast Egg, I found it in the wild, I lied to you, I''m sorry!"

    After bowing deeply and then standing up to wipe his slightly reddened eyes, he took his luggage and, without looking back, followed the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel onto the gangway leading to the airship''s cabin.

    In the end, Old Piao could not keep this secret buried in his gut. Before leaving, he apologized to Chen Fei for his lie.

    -

 Chapter 44: Section 44 - Airship Departs

    "This Piao... such a sly merchant!"

    Chef Abel didn''t know whether tofort Chen Fei or to be angry that Old Piao had pulled onest trick before leaving.

    "Haha!"

    Chen Fei, however, wasn''t angry and waved towards Pu Aihua''s receding back.

    Whether the egg hatched into Xiao Jiu was actually a Magical Beast Egg became irrelevant.

    In fact, it was unlikely to begin with, who would give a Magical Beast Egg to someone they had just met for no reason? It was clear Old Piao wasn''t a tycoon, so it had been a friendly joke from the start.

    Having thought it through, Chen Fei naturally wouldn''t be mad about it.

    The transport vehicles that were still unloading quickly obscured their figures with standard containers, bing faint and soon disappearing at the end of the pier.

    After Chen Fei and Abel sighed for a while and were about to leave, Mr. Chef with his sharp eyes, spotted a familiar figure next to the airship and couldn''t help but exim in surprise, "Eh? Isn''t that Manager Morris, how... is he also leaving?"

    Following the direction pointed by Chef Abel, Chen Fei saw those preparing to board the Phantom Cube-366MAX airship and leave the Aircrew Base 911, not only included Pu Aihua and those from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also Morris Morgan, the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911.

    Manager Morris was talking to someone, with arge suitcase by his side, looking ready for a long journey.

    Chen Fei''s gaze fell on the person who was speaking to Executive Manager Morris Morgan and he said in astonishment, "Hanna Gagar?"

    He had not expected to see her here again, the eyepatch covering her left eye was an easily recognizable feature.

    Theirst encounter had been on the International Medical Ship, and they had only exchanged a word or two, not much interaction, but he still remembered her name.

    "Who? You know her?"

    Chef Abel looked over curiously.

    "A Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hanna Gagar, I''ve seen her before on the International Medical Ship."

    Chen Fei was also puzzled, hadn''t the Ministry of Internal Affairs left with Old Piao?

    Why was this Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs still here?

    "Another one from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

    Chef Abel involuntarily shuddered.

    Not too long ago, personnel from the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had everyone at Aircrew Base 911 on edge, and now another Level Two Inspector had arrived, clearly with no good intentions.

    From another perspective, who would be so bold as to still covet the remains of the Metallic Dragons?

    Old Piao had lost his job at Aircrew Base 911 because he had been too high-profile and caught the attention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    Not only was the chef at a loss, but Chen Fei also couldn''t guess the truth; he shook his head and said, "We should always be careful."

    Abel, having weathered some storms himself, promptly offered a well-meaning reminder, "You''re right, better to act more and talk less."

    The appearance of a Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs here was not a good sign.

    "I''m going back first."

    Chen Fei nned to give Big Brother Xiao and the deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, Irinei Rusios, a heads-up so that no one else would end up like Pu Aihua, targeted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    The sun was slowly setting.

    The Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Battleship stopped sending out standard containers, and the pier became empty and deserted.

    ```

    The hignd where the entire 911 Aircrew Base was located was almost upied by one mountain of containers after another.

    For the next few years, even a decade, there would be no need for regr airlifting of supplies as before. A single heavy transport airship had delivered enough goods tost for a long time, including a significant number of live creatures, providing an opportunity to establish a self-sufficient agricultural ecology industry.

    Before thest rays of the sunset disappeared from the horizon, the underneath part of the heavy transport battleship emitted a zing white light. The sound did not reach a deafening level, but it still stirred up waves of air that spread out in all directions, as the ship''s structure gracefully ascended into the sky.

    Six crystal jet fighters formed into twobat squads that circled in the sky, on alert to provide protection for the Phantom Cube-366MAX heavy transport battleship, ready to deal with any sudden threats at a moment''s notice.

    After all, the battleship was carrying the remains of Metallic Dragons worth tens of billions of Star Yuan, and it was important to prevent any envious parties from attempting an interception en route.

    All the pilots manning the crystal jets were true Sky Knights, each possessing formidable aerialbat skills. A single person in one machine could fearlessly challenge any foe, even if it were a giant dragon.

    With six Sky Knights guarding together, only a sovereign nation brazen enough to make a hostile move could pose a threat to the battleship.

    But for those nations with the power to do so, a mere tens of billions of Star Yuan wasn''t worth breaking the rules over.

    Smaller sovereign nations didn''t even have the capability to challenge six Sky Knights all at once. Without sufficient financial resources, materials, or poption, they couldn''t even train a qualified Sky Knight, much less a crystal jet specially tailored for one.

    Furthermore, the owner of this heavy transport battleship was the number one power of Blue Star, with a poption of 2 billion people. Not to mention six Sky Knights; they could easily produce six hundred if needed.

    Six hundred Sky Knights working together could take down any sovereign nation ranked 30th or below in thebined national strength of the Blue Star Realm.

    Even the nations ranked from 11th to 29th would be left disheveled and severely weakened.

    Across the entire Blue Star Realm, who would dare to provoke the overwhelming swarm of crystal jets?

    And who could?

    -

    After dinner, Chen Fei continued his habit of helping out in the kitchen, while Xiao Jiu followed him around, causing a bit of chaos.

    Yet the chef, for some reason, couldn''t bring himself to be angry with the mischievous creature; on the contrary, he was still trying to please it in every possible way, even going so far as to breed mealworms especially for it.

    The work Chen Fei had to do was more or less the same as the day before, such as preparing the dough for bread, marinating themb chops for vor, and boiling a pot of spiced tea eggs for tomorrow''s breakfast and part of the lunch.

    He took a batch of fresh duck eggs from the refrigerated container driven by crystal energy blocks and a special magic array, washed them thoroughly, then soaked them in over-saturated brine inside jars. Sealed for a month or two, they would be ready to be boiled, resulting in deliciously salty eggs with oil oozing from the yolks, a top-tier apaniment to any meal.

    As for the new ideas that Chen Fei came up with, Chef Abel followed his lead without question, because this was a racial talent, deeply ingrained in one''s bones and genes, bing part of the gic markers, something that outsiders simply couldn''t learn.

    Chen Fei kept busy while listening to Chef Abel ramble on about the affairs of the Aircrew Base.

    The cafeteria was a natural gathering ce on the base, a source of all kinds of rumors and gossip. Just by paying a little attention, it was often easy to learn many firsthand pieces of information.

    Being close to the source, even if Chef Abel didn''t actively seek out news, he could still hear a lot just by keeping his ears open.

    The Ministry of the Interior Level Two Inspector Hanna Gagel, whom he and Chen Fei saw in the afternoon, was actually finalizing the handover with the previous executive manager, Morris Morgan. She was about to take over his position as the new executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base.

    Cross-departmental transfers like this were not umon within many enterprises.

    However, someone from the ministry originally responsible for oversight being promoted to the highest position of a subordinate unit could be seen as either a good or a bad thing.

    Strictly speaking, with the change in leadership at the Aircrew Base, there shouldn''t be any significant impact on a neer like Chen Fei who had only been there a short while. However, he was somewhat concerned about sudden policy changes that might, for instance, lead to the cancetion of his part-time duties.

    He wondered if the new executive manager would agree to one person holding multiple positions, earning a sry from several roles.

    But Chef Abel thought Chen Fei was overthinking it. With the arrival of so many materials in one go on the 366-meter-long "Luo Jing Number" heavy transport battleship, there would be a heavy workload of organizing supplies for at least half a year, leaving the Aircrew Base in a constant state of manpower shortage.

    As the base''s executive manager, she would definitely prefer to have someone who could handle multiple roles and fully utilize the preciousbor force.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 45: Section 45 - Night Shift Duty

    After finishing up in the kitchen, Chen Fei carried a fragrant baguette, a bag of roastedmb chops, and a mixed sd off work, a perk of helping out in the kitchen that at least saved him some food expenses. It wasn''t a lucrative gig, but it sure was a delightful one.

    He returned to his dormitory, left half of the baguette, roastedmb chops, and sd there, and put the other half in a basket. He then carried it to the northwestern corner of the Aircrew Base where he was headed.

    The ce was now surrounded byyer uponyer of standard shipping containers. Walking through felt a bit like navigating a maze.

    When Chen Fei arrived in front of a steel-structured shed, he couldn''t find a doorbell, so he had to shout.

    "Grandpa Barut, are you there?"

    "Who is it? Oh, Little Chen,e in, the door''s unlocked!"

    Several coughs and an elderly voice came from inside.

    The warm-hearted mechanic had long been acquainted with the old master Barut, the Neanderthal in charge of the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower. By the time Chen Fei found the ce, the person inside had been waiting for a while.

    Chen Fei pushed the door open and was first struck by the sight of a huge cylindrical body, nearly four meters tall, nearly touching the shed''s ceiling. It dominated his entire field of vision.

    This was the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower that provided abundant electric power to the entire 911 Aircrew Base.

    It was technology of high efficiency from the Third Era Civilization, using deuterium and tritium as fuel, entirely non-radiative and non-vibrational, extremely safe and stable¡ªindeed very reliable.

    Even though it was operating, it was still extremely quiet; you couldn''t hear a sound.

    Apart from the blinking indicator lights and disy screens updating in real time with output power curves and other relevant data, it was hard to tell that it was conducting ultra-low-temperature fusion reactions and continuously converting electric energy.

    "Ultra-low temperature" didn''t mean many degrees below zero; it was only rtive. The actual reaction temperatures were still above zero degrees Celsius. It couldn''t melt steel, but there was no problem igniting a piece of paper.

    This perplexing temperature naming wasn''t an exception. For instance, the "high temperature" in high-temperature superconductors wasn''t truly high, still being below zero degrees Celsius, and far colder than a household refrigerator''s freezerpartment.

    Only with the advent of room-temperature superconducting materials did temperature names return to normal.

    The steel-structured shed had a round weather vane on top, like a big conical hat, which was slowly rotating, dispersing the excess heat released from the Energy Tower directly below it.

    Still, some heat remained in the shed, making the temperature inside five or six degrees Celsius higher than outside.

    In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the temperature difference between morning and evening was huge¡ªwith daytime temperatures over twenty degrees Celsius, but plunging below zero at night.

    If the weather vane on the roof were closed after nightfall, the residual heat from the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower would still be enough to keep the entire shed warm as spring, to the point where even thermal coats would be too hot to wear.

    After moving his gaze away from the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, Chen Fei was immediately struck by the plethora of greenery nearly filling the entire shed.

    The ce was like a small garden, moreover a greenhouse, brightly lit as if by baby suns, illuminating the whole shed as if in daylight.

    The smell of ammonia in the air, mixed with the unique fragrance of nts, was unexpectedly not unpleasant.

    The cozy warmth hit him as he entered. Chen Fei noticed the hanging hygrometer. The current temperature was 24 degrees Celsius with a humidity of 62%. Compared to the dry cold outside, along with the lush greenery before his eyes, the environment here was like Eden.

    "Chirp!~"

    The little bird, who had been dozing in Chen Fei''s cor, bustled out, shook its feathers, and looked around curiously. It took flight excitedly,nded amid the flora, and pecked around, asionally chirping, clearly considering the ce its own yground.

    "Xiao Jiu, don''t fly around,e back!"

    Chen Fei called out in haste, wary of the little bird disturbing the master of the ce.

    On hearing the call, the little bird promptly flew back, but instead of perching on his shoulder as usual, it hopped around nearby nts, seemingly too happy to leave.

    "It''s okay, birds are free. You can take off your coat and hang it on the rack."

    The Neanderthal elder, Grandpa Barut, wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt, was watering the flowers and nts when he heard the chirping of a bird, and a smile appeared on his face.

    The arrival of Xiao Jiu actually brought him an unexpected surprise.

    The usually quiet hut felt instantly livelier with the sound of the bird''s chirping.

    Barut''s work here resembled that of a retired old man who spent his days caring for nts, nearly devoting all his dull days guarding the Energy Tower to them.

    "Sorry to interrupt,"

    Chen Fei obligingly took off his thick work clothes and hung them on the clothes rack, before lifting up the basket to signal his reason for the visit.

    "Grandpa Barut, I''ve brought some snacks to apany the drink."

    Having drunk together before, Chen Fei naturally knew what kind of gift to bring when visiting the Neanderthal n leader.

    Bread,mb chops, and sd were more than sufficient to pair with drinks.

    "Oh ho, you''re thoughtful. Just hold on a sec, I''ll go get the wine,"

    Said the Neanderthal elder with a chuckle, nodding at the brimming basket before setting down his watering can and walking toward a corner of the hut.

    When he came back, he was carrying things in both hands¡ªone hand held a ss bottle of wine with two goblets pinched alongside, and the other gripped a thick book.

    Leading Chen Fei to a round table, Barut finally put down the wine bottle, goblets, and the book, stating, "This is my homemade blueberry wine. Taste it and see how you like it. And this, I think you might need it."

    As he spoke, he tapped the cover of the book with his finger, then uncorked the bottle and poured the wine, as clear as a sapphire, into the goblets.

    Chen Fei picked up the book and nced at the cover. It was a technical manual for the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, including design principles, operation procedures, and troubleshooting.

    The entire book was brand new and seemed almost untouched.

    Low-temperature nuclear fusion technology originally came from the Third Era Civilization of the Neanderthal tribe, and Barut was no stranger to it. He could navigate every button and part of the Energy Tower with his eyes closed, his familiarity even surpassing that of the Blue Star manufacturers; he had no need for the technical manual.

    The Aircrew Base had employed such a Neanderthal elder not just for cost-effectiveness.

    After Barut poured the drinks, he snapped open a pair of disposable bamboo chopsticks, picked up a piece of grilledmb chop, and started gnawing on it, chewing and swallowing even the bones, mumbling through his meal, "The job isn''t difficult at all, very simple. Just run a self-inspection program daily, routinely check the output power curve. You don''t need to watch it all the time.

    If there''s any problem, it will alert and generate a fault report by itself. You don''t need to repair it personally. If there''s a fault, just phone it in and send the fault report; the Energy Tower won''t explode. At most, it''ll just automatically halt the fusion reaction. Once it shuts down, mechanicalponents will reset the reaction inserts, and the fusion fuel won''t leak."

    One couldn''t help but admire the old fellow''s strong teeth, capable ofpletely consuming the meat without spitting out the bones.

    "Chirp!~"

    Seemingly attracted by the aroma of the blueberry wine, the little bird that Chen Fei brought pped its wings and flew over, perched on the edge of his goblet, and curiously eyed the purple liquid inside.

    "Shoo, shoo, shoo, you can''t drink alcohol!"

    Having had the experience of Xiao Jiu stealing sips of coffee and making strange chirping noises, Chen Fei couldn''t predict what kind of negative impacts might ur and wouldn''t let it sneak a sip of something that birds shouldn''t touch again.

    He waved his hand to shoo Xiao Jiu away from the goblet while still flipping through the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower technical manual in his hands.

    Before this, he had beenpletely unfamiliar with the Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower.

    "Chirp chirp chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu pped its little wings and hopped around on the table, clumsily but stubbornly refusing to give up easily.

    Barut looked at the little bird with its glossy ck feathers and expressed his surprise, "It''s actually a Pure Light Sparrow!"

    -

 Chapter 46: Section 46 - Magical Beast Xiao Jiu

    "Pure Light Sparrow? Grandpa Barut, do you know its breed?"

    Chen Fei raised his head from the technical manual. He had been unable to identify what kind of bird Xiao Jiu was and worried that this little thing might end up a bachelor. The worry of a father was evident.

    "Hehe, it''s still a magical beast!"

    Barut chuckled with eyes narrowed.

    It seemed he found it extremely amusing that this young man was unwittingly rearing a bird-shaped magical beast. Ordinary people hardly ever had the chance toe across a magical beast, let alone a wise one that would willingly be someone else''s pet or a utility beast.

    "Is that true? Hahaha, Xiao Jiu, you''re actually a magical beast. You must study hard!"

    Chen Fei reached out his finger and gently rubbed the little bird''s head. If Old Piao knew this news, he''d probably vomit blood to the tune of three liters!

    The little bird flew agilely onto his hand, pecking around to express its dissatisfaction.

    What is a magical beast? Can you eat it?

    Its little brain didn''t understand and didn''t want to try. All it knew was that it was the master''s Xiao Jiu, chirp chirp!

    Perhaps the crooked merchant Pu Aihua, who had given the egg to Chen Fei, never could have imagined that he had actually found a real magical beast egg near the Aircrew Base in the wilderness.

    However, whether Xiao Jiu was really a magical beast or not, Chen Fei didn''t much care. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly returned to his usual demeanor, without entering into any emotional turmoil over it.

    The Neanderthal elder, Barut, watched him with approval in his eyes, nodding secretly. He didn''t continue the conversation about Xiao Jiu''s identity as a magical beast, instead he reached for another piece ofmb chop with his chopsticks, looked it over, and said with a smile, "These ribs must be your handiwork, right? Chef Abel doesn''t have such skill."

    And Chef Singh, who could only open frozen food packages, was even less likely. The reason he could hold the position of chef at the Aircrew Base was simply because of lower employment costs. His sry definitely couldn''tpare with that of Chef Abel, who had real talent in his hands.

    Chen Fei didn''t deny it, and said, "Yeah, I used garlic powder, eggs, salt, cooking wine, Orleans roasted meat seasoning, and fried chicken breading, nothing technically demanding."

    All readymade ingredients were used: garlic powder and cooking wine to remove any gamey vor, eggs to tenderize the meat, Orleans roasted meat seasoning to enhance vor, and fried chicken breading to lock in the moisture, ensuring a pleasing texture.

    There wasn''t much innovation, yet it gave more nuanced voryers than Chef Abel''s original n of using ck pepper, sweet red wine, onions, basil, and cumin as seasoning.

    Compared to Abel''s method, Chen Fei''s approach was more akin to home cooking, with ingredients that were easily found in anymon household.

    "You should be in the kitchen more often, much better than that guy who can only open packages."

    Barut swallowed the meat and bone in one gulp as usual, showing his satisfaction.

    "I''m a mechanic, the base won''t pay me that much sry."

    Chen Fei lifted his wine ss, gestured with it, and took a sip, saying, "This wine is really good!"

    The blueberries for brewing were picked from the vines inside the shed, hardly any different from the wild, all-natural ones. The purple wine was thick, clinging to the ss, with a fruity aroma and a crisp, smooth vor ¡ª far superior to those gaudy, cheap booze made from corn alcohol mixed with chemical essences.

    Compared to the wine Barut had broughtst time, one was like a rustic beauty and the other like an urban goddess, each with their own strengths.

    "Hahaha, I''ve heard!"

    Barut was also well-informed. The young man before him was not just a mechanic in the maintenance team but had recently joined the flyer squadron and be an assistant to the canteen''s head chef, Abel.

    During the daytime, he worked for the maintenance team and the flyer squadron; the two hours after work were spent in the canteen''s kitchen, and the rest of the time was dedicated here, working non-stop, never resting frombor.

    Young people who worked this hard in today''s society were rare.

    "No choice, I owe a lot of money."

    Chen Fei didn''t avoid the subject, shaking his head with a wry smile.

    He, too, wanted to be like everyone else: work regr hours, rest on holidays, call a few friends together for food and fun, vent the pressures of work, and then continue saving money to buy a house and a car, marry a decent girl, start a family and just like that, live an ordinary, unremarkable life without any regrets.

    "Don''t worry, for someone like you, it shouldn''t be a problem. Young people, after all, have countless possibilities ahead of them."

    Barut picked up his wine ss and clinked it with Chen Fei''s, savoring a sip with satisfaction from his homemade blueberry wine.

    The purple liquid was rich in anthocyanins, offering many benefits to the human body. As a fruit wine that wasn''t distilled, it was naturally low in alcohol content, not strong and heady, usually around 14 degrees, but with an exquisite vor.

    Apanied by snacks, raising their sses from time to time, they engaged in light and pleasant conversation. The Neanderthal elder then entrusted Chen Fei with the night shift work overseeing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower.

    With not a drop left in the bottle of blueberry wine and the snacks finally gone, the Neanderthal elder stood up, wrapped himself in a coat at the entrance of the hut, and staggered away, temporarily leaving the ce in Chen Fei''s care.

    Barut had his own dormitory, which was much better than Chen Fei''s modest personal room.

    The steel structure shelter housing the Energy Tower was originally not a ce for living. After some modifications, it had be a garden-like greenhouse.

    Even though it had a restroom with running water, it still couldn''t be fully used as a dormitory.

    Firstly, itcked shower facilities, making bathing impossible. Sure, one could wash with a basin of hot water, but it''s no match for a proper shower.

    Secondly, this ce was a warmhouse. It was as warm as spring in winter, veryfortable, but in summer, it would turn into a steamer or an oven. Without opening the rooftop vents for enhanced venttion, this ce could only serve as a sauna room, impossible to live in.

    But right now, with the biting wind outside and the warmth inside the shelter, it was more than adequate as a temporary ce to sleep.

    Working the night shift here didn''t require constant vignce. Keeping periodic checks was enough, and the rest of the time, one could do whatever they wished¡ªtending to nts, eating and drinking, or even just sleeping.

    There was a bedside cab, a steel-framed single bed, and an empty personal storage locker, with pillows and fleece nkets all provided. Chen Fei had noints.

    He tried out all the operating procedures as Barut had instructed. The automation level of the Energy Tower was high, not requiring much manual intervention. The actual workload was minimal, and within just five minutes, he hadpleted the state and safety check of the Energy Tower.

    Xiao Jiu tirelessly flew around the garden, asionally returning with a beakful of colorful berry juice, smearing it on Chen Fei''s hands and leaving vivid, splotchy marks.

    The flowers and nts Barut had grown were not chosen deliberately. Whether they bloomed or bore fruit, whether they were fragrant or the fruit was edible, it didn''t matter. In a corner, there even was a pot of lush green scallions, thriving without any signs of being plucked; they seemed to be grown purely for the sake of nting.

    Still, there were some nice things, like figs, blueberries, raspberries, trifoliate oranges, pineapples, pitayas, and even an apple treeden with fruit.

    The Neanderthal elder was not stingy at all, telling Chen Fei to help himself to whatever he wanted to eat. The greenhouse''s fruit yield was more than a couple of people could finish.

    The night deepened, and Chen Fei had roughly skimmed through most of the technical manual that Barut had given him. After turning off the lights inside the greenhouse, leaving only a smallmp on, he headed to the steel-framed single bed and found that the little creature, Xiao Jiu, had taken over his pillow, curled up and sound asleep, asionally chirping softly.

    In such a small form, what kind of Magical Beast could it be?

    Chen Fei smiled and shook his head, gently picked it up, and ced it back into the bird''s nest he had brought, covering it with a soft tissue to serve as a nket. He had no interest in finding out what abilities the little bird might possess, as long as it grew up safely.

    Before sleeping, he reached into his bag to get the sleeping pill bottle, wanting to sleep until morning, but came up empty.

    He had actually forgotten to bring them.

    Chen Fei wasn''t of an age where he relied on sleeping pills, so it wasn''t unusual to forget them.

    He gazed out the door of the greenhouse; the cutting wind of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area swept across the standard container hills, emitting a deep growl.

    From sunset to now, in just three or four short hours, the outdoor temperature had plummeted to a chilling minus ten degrees Celsius or more, reinforced by a fierce wind that could easily cause one to catch a cold.

    As a hardworkingborer, he simply couldn''t afford to fall ill; it was much better to stay in the warmth of the greenhouse-like shelter, guarding the Energy Tower that consistently released residual heat.

    But Chen Fei had his own ways.

    -

 Chapter 47: Section 47 - Close and Open Your Eyes, and Its Daybreak

    Staring at the "Illegal operation or wrongmand" that filled most of his vision, he invoked the "cls"mand like a magic spell, instantly clearing the screen. Then, dismissing his stray thoughts, the frequency of "Illegal operation or wrongmand" messages reduced significantly.

    He could guess that these characters were actually his stray thoughts, which did not match the correspondingmand for "Phantosmia", hence the prompts.

    If he could modify this system, he should be able to solve the problem of meaningless screen spam that interfered with his vision.

    Honestly, he had be somewhat ustomed to it, and he began to selectively ignore the messages, which weren''t as annoying as they had been at first.

    After the "cls"mand, he threw out a "dir"mand.

    Emmm...

    Where''s my update.bat?

    "A:>\\directory"

    ****/12/12--12:21----2333--setup.exe

    2333 bytes"

    Chen Fei was somewhat stunned. The update.bat in the "A:>\\" partition had vanished, and instead, there was a new setup.exe.

    The files here could actually change.

    Screw it, I don''t care anymore.

    "A:>\\setup.exe"

    Enter!

    Close my eyes, open them, and it''s already daylight!

    Damn!

    Chen Fei didn''t even have a chance to lie down and had already woken up.

    That meant he had sat on the bed the entire night without feeling anything.

    "Chirp chirp chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu, who had already woken up, was hopping cheerfully on Chen Fei''s shoulder as usual, nibbling at his ear from time to time, and smearing his ear with spots of color from the paddle fruit juice it had stolen before.

    Called back to reality by the crisp chirping, Chen Fei carefully moved his body, relieved to feel neither stiffness nor difort, and he let out a long breath.

    This darn DOS system wasn''t so bad after all.

    Focusing his gaze, the view in front of his eyes was refreshing, without the annoying "Illegal operation or wrongmand" messages. Instead, it seemed to have entered some sort of progress interface, and it appeared to be an online instation.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>...0.01%..."

    Below it showed the number of files being downloaded: 3 (2MB)/17174 (19.5GB), with a current connection speed of 0.05KB, sometimes dropping to 0.01KB.

    This godly inte speed... must be prehistoric, right?

    It''s hopeless, just let it die, I''m tired!

    At this rate, it''s going to take forever to download.

    But Chen Fei didn''t care. Whether the instation interfacepleted 100% wasn''t important. What mattered was that the interface was refreshing and not as irritating as the previous DOSmand line interface.

    So, let it download however long it wants, preferably forever. In a sense, that would be a solution to the "Phantosmia" issue.

    "Are you awake?"

    A cough sounded from outside the house, and the voice of Old Master Barut from the Neanderthal tribe came in.

    "I''ve been awake for a while, Grandpa Barut, good morning!"

    Chen Fei checked his cell phone; it was only 7:05 AM, and there was still some time before he had to start work officially. He didn''t expect the other party toe over so early.

    "No problem, I''m old and get up early. I brought breakfast for you."

    Old Barut entered the room, carrying a thermal bag with the breakfast he had brought for Chen Fei, cing it on the table inside the hut.

    The base''s breakfast was basically prepared by Chef Singh and Chef Abel, each contributing their part.

    Without being polite to Old Barut, Chen Fei hurriedly washed up, put his personal belongings back into the storage cab, sat down at the round table, and opened the thermal bag. Inside, there was a box of steamed buns, a box of pan-fried dumplings, a portion of fried noodles, and a jar of steaming rice porridge.

    Taking a gentle sniff, if full marks were 100 points, it would at least get 60 points to pass. Industrialized frozen food was just like that; it couldn''t satisfy everyone.

    However, there are benefits to unpacking as well. Although it''s not the same as the authentic hometown vor, at least it doesn''t fall victim to all sorts of maddening modifications and getced with a bizarre curry taste that could potentially incite a riot throughout the base.

    The cost-saving measures at the Aircrew Base, more or less, all had some lines that couldn''t be crossed.

    "How did you sleepst night?"

    Seeing Chen Fei wolf down his breakfast, Barut poured him a cup of coffee, which was just what he needed to perk up and get into work mode sooner.

    "Not bad!"

    His eyes had closed and then it was daylight, without even a dream. Chen Fei didn''t feel anything was amiss; in fact, he was full of energy at the moment, showing no signs of grogginess or stiffness from staying up all night, it felt more like a dreamless night.

    "Good to hear you''re adapting, thest thing we need is for you to have trouble sleeping here."

    Barut said, smiling and nodding.

    Some people are sensitive to different sleeping environments, which can lead to sleep problems. If one can adapt, then the uing night shifts will be much easier.

    Chen Fei quickly packed up his things, bid farewell to Barut, and took the collected trash with him.

    He returned to the dormitory to prepare some items and still found the time to call home to check in with each other.

    Elder Brother Chen had just gotten married but didn''t take a honeymoon with his bride. Instead, he went to work overtime the day after the wedding banquet, and it stretched to three days. He was even nning to start a second job during his free time. The expected grand wedding banquet ended up being a simple formality.

    The bride''s family and friends were clearly not too pleased, and there were no shortage of cold remarks.

    Fortunately, his new sister-inw was understanding and didn''tin much. Not only did she manage their small household well, but she also often came to help out at her inws'' home.

    Chen Meng finally got serious, discarded all celebrity merchandise, and devoted herself to her studies, aiming for a good university and a good job in the future. She was determined to take on the debt that Second Brother Chen Fei had shouldered and not be a burden on the family.

    Father Chen and Mother Chen had retired, but now they had each found a job and could earn a bit to help with the family expenses.

    Everyone was working hard because of that huge debt; not a single person was idle.

    Given the situation, Chen Fei didn''t dare tell his family that he had identally killed a Giant Dragon and almost lost his life.

    It''s better not to worry the family when you''re away from home.

    -

    After lunch, Chen Fei''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron training ss hadn''t started yet. Along with all the employees of the Aircrew Base, he received a notification for an online video conference.

    As a subsidiary of the Apocalypse Defense Group, the Aircrew Base had an independent internal management system.

    Each employee could use their work card number and corresponding password to look up their sry statements, work performance assessments, approvals for personal applications and reports, as well as special announcements from the base.

    Following the notification, Chen Fei opened the link, and the screen of his tablet immediately showed the image of Hanna Gagel, the One-Eye, Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She sat behind the former executive manager''s desk, her face cold as she stared at everyone on the screen.

    Many people were likely bewildered at this moment since only a few at the Aircrew Base were aware that the executive manager was being reced, and there hadn''t been an official announcement till now.

    After a moment of silence, Hanna Gagel finally spoke.

    "I am Hanna Gagel from the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, officially recing Mr. Morris Morgan as the new executive manager of the Aircrew Base. I look forward to working pleasantly with all of you in the days toe."

    All over the Aircrew Base, there was an uproar, as many hadn''t expected such a sudden change in management without any prior indication.

    "WTF?"

    Chen Fei heard the incredulous voice of Squadron Leader Chekhov, nicknamed Big Bear.

    The deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios took a sniff and spoke with indifference, "This woman, huh, Cyclops!"

    "Yeah, she''s hot!"

    The pilot of the Z-9 Armed Helicopter, nicknamed "Miso," Yamada Yuhu split into a lecherous grin, nearly licking the screen.

    The mechanic foreman, Xiao Ming, remained expressionless: "..."

    Whether the executive manager changed or not didn''t impact him much.

    Pilots are easy to find, but experienced mechanics are scarce, so he had the right to be aloof.

    While everyone was specting about the inaugural speech of the new executive manager, Hanna Gagel''s next words once again took them by surprise.

    "Next, I will show you a video."

    Screens of various sizes simultaneously shed in unison.

    -

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 48: Section 48 - No Comparison, No Hurt

    00:01- A piercing rm sounded, and the 911 Aircrew Base was thrown into chaos. Soon, the scene inside Hangar 1 was shown, with a timer starting in the top right corner.

    04:23- Six A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft had their missiles loaded and safeties removed, and were ready on the tarmac.

    06:46- The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had finally gathered, disheveled and stumbling, dawdling, and dragging their feet, followed by Squadron Leader Chekhov, who staggered into the hangar clenching a bottle of wine while intoxicated.

    07:48- Most pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron boarded their aircraft, and the first batch of five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft took off in formation and headed to thebat zone.

    08:18- At this time, the two MiG-28 Jet Fighters that had been dragged to the tarmac had justpleted warming up.

    08:30- The MiG Aircraft that were on standby were then struck by a falling Dragon Spike and exploded violently on the spot, instantly killing several ground staff and the pilot "Lemongrass" Basong.

    9:14- Squadron Leader Chekhov, still disheveled, then shouldered the freshly recruited Rookie Fire Control Operator to board thest turboprop aircraft.

    9:49- "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, aircraft 211 "Big Mouth Monster" took off, heading to y the Giant Dragon with warmed Erguotou in their trousers.

    The video ended there, Chekhov Big Bear''s series of absurd actions had deeply ingrained in people''s hearts, leaving many wanting tough but not daring, struggling immensely to hold it in.

    The scene then switched back to the executive manager''s office, the voice of the new executive manager echoed once more.

    "I, Hanna Gagar, am very dissatisfied."

    Not only did the ground units that provided various logistical supports to the Combat Flight Squadron look at each other in bewilderment, but the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were also equally puzzled, not quite understanding the true intentions of the one-eyed female manager.

    What''s there to be dissatisfied about?

    My god!

    Does she even want to kill the Dragon King?

    Is this a bid to instigate a war between two worlds?

    As a subsidiary of the private military contractor Apocalypse Defense Group, the 911 Aircrew Base is not in a position to initiate a war between nes. Even the slightest thought of such an action would get it squashed by any sovereign country with a flick of a finger.

    The weaponry of private military contractors, in the face of the violent institutions of sovereign countries, would disappear if thetter so much as sneezed...

    "In my view, a true Combat Flight Squadron should be like this."

    As Hanna Gagar spoke, everyone''s phones and tablets shed, disying a scene from an unfamiliar aircrew base.

    Tightly aligned ck jet fighters were parked on the tarmac, each apanied by a power supply truck and an air supply truck.

    00:01- The rm sounded, countdown timer started.

    01:15- Ammunition team pulled the pins and departed.

    02:06- Uniformed pilots arrived on the tarmac.

    03:39- Fighter jets finished warming up, power and air supply trucks departed.

    04:57- Fighter jets taxied onto the runway.

    05:15- Took off.

    Aparison chart appeared on the screen.

    Loadingpletion time: "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron (04:23)£üX Squadron (01:15)

    Gatheringpletion time: "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron (06:46)£üX Squadron (02:06)

    Fighter jet warmingpletion time: "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron (07:48/08:18)£üX Squadron (03:39)

    Entering the runway time: "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron (07:48/none)£üX Squadron (04:57)

    The staff at 911 Aircrew Base finally grasped what the new executive manager, Hanna Gagar, was trying to convey.

    Had the two videos been shown separately, they might not have made an impression, but when juxtaposed, theck ofparison would not have hurt.

    It effectively pitted the two against each other in a silent duel, suggesting that while the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron was just finishing gathering, Squadron X could have alreadypleted takeoff. Moreover, if the distance between them wasn''t great, the former might have been annihted on the tarmac without even reaching their nes.

    Just this!

    Even considering that X Squadron''s jet fighters needed time to warm up while the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s turboprops could simply fire up and go, obviating the need for power and air supply trucks, this advantage had not been significant in theparison.

    This woman is really ruthless! She knows what to focus on.

    Everyone''s mouths twitched.

    What the fuck!

    Apocalypse Defense Group is just a private military contractor, and 911 Aircrew Base is just a contracted defense base. Considering the takeoff efficiency of the so-called "X Squadron", it is clearly a sovereign nation''s air force squadron.

    One is a militia, the other is a regr army, how could they possiblypare?

    Moreover, the target objectives of 911 Aircrew Base were mostly the out-of-control reproducing otherworldly creatures and mutants, it never intended tobat anyone. Whether the response time is a few minutes faster or slower makes absolutely no difference.

    Expecting a private enterprise''s pilots to meet the standards of a sovereign nation''s airforce... that''s asking for the moon!

    The faces of the pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron began to look rather grim; this new one-eyed female officer was really setting the ce aze with her first move in power.

    "Damn it! I, Chekhov, always knew thisdy was no good."

    The boss of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, cursed with a displeased expression on his face.

    Mild and docile to your face, but a hard hitter behind your back.

    "Hmm, Big Daizi is so impressive, huh?"

    The deputy squadron leader, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, crossed her arms; her thought process was exceptionally peculiar, focusing on what others did not.

    "So-does-Daizi! (English: That''s exactly what I think! / Japanese: You''re right!)"

    Scavenger Squad Leader "Miso" Yamada Yuhu embodied Kamisama, with a pun fitting both interpretations perfectly, pleasing both sides, whether transliterated or tranted.

    The poor mouse in the bellows, full of the will to survive.

    No wonder they were pilots; when they speed up, they could overtake any seasoned high-speed driver.

    Chekhov mechanically turned his head and said word by word, "Big Daizi (Norwegian Neida: no), she really is impressive!"

    Old man, having roamed the Jianghu for over forty years, I can let down everyone except when ites to flying nes and Big Daizi.

    One must be honest, true to one''s own heart, and speak with a conscience.

    ... Big Bear was crazily testing the waters of courting death.

    Little Chili instantaneously went berserk, screaming as she pounced on Big Bear''s body, furiously scratching him.

    ... As the red sun rises, its path grants great light; river from hidden flow, pouring out vast seas; hidden dragon soars from the abyss, scales and ws flying high; nursing tiger roars in the valley, all beasts tremble; eagle tests its wings, drawing in the winds and dust...

    The scene momentarily spiraled out of control, unbearable to watch.

    "Hey, hey, hey, let''s talk nicely, no need for violence!"

    "Crazy, Irinei''s gone mad!"

    "Squadron Leader, what nonsense are you spouting!"

    "Where exactly are you two focusing? Stop it right away!"

    "Quick, pull them apart!"

    ...

    Everyone worked together and finally pulled the relentless short-haired girl off the scratched-up Big Bear.

    Chekhov was forcefully extracted of N blood by Irinei Rusios, physically educated to the point that he looked utterly ragged.

    "Devil Pepper" teacher, well done!

    Chen Fei picked up his cellphone, turned on the camera feature, and took several consecutive shots as a keepsake.

    He loved any ssic scenes of Big Bear getting a thorough beating.

    "As the executive manager of the Aircrew Base 911, my first order of business is to reorganize the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron and rted departments, ensuring thatbat capabilities reach the required standard."

    The voice of the one-eyed Hanna Gagal resounded once again, first expressing dissatisfaction, then disying a video forparison, making a well-reasoned and orderly argument; next, intending to take action against the mainbat force of the Aircrew Base 911, it was just the natural course of things.

    As her voice faded, Big Bear and the short-haired girl, who had been fighting like gamecocks, immediately ceased their bickering; their gazes swiftly met in the air, and they rapidly came to an agreement.

    When on the edge of internal conflict and external threats, internal disputes must be resolved internally; whether it was Squadron Leader Chekhov or Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios, neither would sit by and watch someoney their hands on the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron.

    LSP Chekhov would not lose his principles over this; Daizi is Daizi, work is work, talking emotions could cost money, especially when there aren''t even any emotions involved.

    "We need to think up strategies, have a n A, n B, n C, and not let the female Cyclops have her way."

    Chekhov drew in a sharp breath; he had been scratched quite badly.

    "Devil Pepper," once she starts going crazy, it''s not your ordinary kind of crazy.

    "I agree!"

    Though still feeling upset, the short-haired girl grudgingly expressed her agreement.

    "Everyone must work together, don''t let them iste and defeat us; if anyone dares to betray us, I, Chekhov, will not let him off, do you all hear me?"

    Big Bear let out a loud roar, immediately eliciting a unanimous response from all the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron.

    -

 Chapter 49: Section 49 - Suspicious Person

    New officers bring three fires, and Hanna Gagel, a Level Two Inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, aimed her first fire directly at the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, but she did not mention her second and third fires.

    Apart from the pilots of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadroning together to start discussing n ABC, the other departments fell into panic, the fear stemming from the unknown. They weren''t afraid of open confrontation, but rather the sudden burst of covert attacks, leaving them utterly unprepared.

    The mechanic crew was quiteposed, under the leadership of their boss, Xiao Ming, the work of the mechanics was impable.

    Manager Hanna Gagel presented a video as an example, which was after thebat alert was sounded, but the work of the mechanic crew was finished before thebat alert, and judging from the flight state of the "Big Mouth Monster" after taking off, the mechanics had not been negligent. All damages werebat-rted, with no nonbat losses due to malfunction.

    As for the neer, Chen Fei, he was even less involved. One moment a mechanic, another a pilot, working a shift at night, jumping back and forth, he was alright.

    As long as he continued to study and train ording to the original n and waited to start working formally, those three fires could not touch him no matter what.

    The manager''s office at Aircrew Base 911.

    Hanna Gagel, who had just finished her inaugural speech, stood opposite two men in ck suits and ck sunsses, their expressions solemn, holding a folder in their hands.

    "The list?"

    She had not parachuted into Aircrew Base 911 alone and unprepared to take over the position of executive manager from Morris Morgan; instead, she brought a small but efficient team.

    An inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs parachuting down to a subordinate unit to take up the post of executive manager was an unusual personnel move.

    But involving the recently acquired remains of a Metallic Dragon and the huge profits of hundreds of billions of Star Yuan, any irrationality seemed justified.

    "Inspector¡ª"

    One of the men in ck suits and ck sunsses had just begun speaking but was cut off abruptly.

    "Stop. Please address me as Manager Hanna."

    Hanna Gagel frowned, her simple words silencing the two men instantly.

    "One-Eye Hanna" was not known in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for being kind, gentle, or approachable. Such a person usually had limited tolerance for subordinates'' mistakes, and to avoid an unpleasant end, it was best not to continue testing the limits.

    "Manager Hanna, this is the suspect list we''ve justpiled."

    The man in the ck suit, holding a folder, respectfully ced it on therge desk and quickly retreated to his original position, standing with his hands at his sides and his expression extremely serious, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

    Standard A4-size papers, a total of five pages, with the information and rtedments of twenty-five people listed, from different departments and positions at Aircrew Base 911.

    Hanna Gagel picked up the file from the desk and flipped through it, then casually marked several names with different symbols¡ªa triangle, a pentagon, and some question marks¡ªbefore finally saying, "Polygraphs and psychological assessments have already evaluated Pu Aihua. His small business isn''t significant andcks special channels; it''s all for show. He can be ruled out as a suspect.

    Just keep an eye on his and his family''s bank ounts, and remember to report to me promptly if there''s any significant financial activity."

    "Then there''s Chen Fei, born into a standardmoner family, without any special abilities, limited experience. He probably wouldn''t even recognize what a Dragon Heart Core looks like. Even if it fell into his hands, with his situation at the time, he was nearly dead; it''s impossible that he could have hidden anything."

    "Also, Spunk from security, his eyes are color weak, almost unable to distinguish between the Heart Core and regr stones. Confirm his movement tracks and draw a trajectory map. If there''s no issue, he can be ruled out as well."

    "Keep a close watch on Barut. There''s a saying, ''Those not of our kind, their hearts will differ.'' He is not only a Neanderthal; he was also a guard for the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization. It''s difficult to guarantee he won''t have some special intentions. This person is dangerous."

    Hanna Gagel''s pen pressed hard on Barut''s name, beside which she had just drawn a pentagon.

    The amount of information revealed in her words was substantial.

    Despite digging three feet into the ground in the area where the Metallic Dragon had fallen, Apocalypse Defense Group collected all the wreckage they could find, not sparing even pieces the size of rice grains, yet they conspicuously failed to find its Heart Core, not even a fragment the size of a fingernail.

    The whereabouts of the Metallic Dragon Bit''s Heart Core was unknown, and no one could guarantee whether it had self-destructed or been turned to dust by the KDK-1 suction-type hypersonic smart missile on the spot, as it was the first time the "Dragon yer Missile" was used in realbat to kill a Giant Dragon, and there was no precedent before, let alone the result being a Metallic Dragon.

    However, ording to top-secret information from special channels, once the Heart Core of a Metallic Dragon lineage was damaged, the quality of the remaining wreckage would plummet more than one grade in an instant, diminishing its value greatly.

    Still, the quality of the Metallic Dragon''s wreckage in the hands of Apocalypse Defense Group remained as good as new, and it could definitely sell for a good price.

    This meant... the Heart Core of the Metallic Dragon might still exist, possibly intact.

    Apocalypse Defense Group discreetly sealed off the information.

    The two men in ck suits and sunsses across the big desk exchanged a look, realizing there were so many omissions in their investigation that they broke out in a cold sweat.

    In unison, the two said, "Thank you for the reminder... Manager Hanna."

    They almost made a mistake again.

    Fortunately, she didn''t seem to want to make a scene on the spot, allowing them to quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

    "How''s the monitoring n going?"

    Hanna Gagel pushed the folder containing information about more than twenty people back onto the desk and slid it forward.

    The man in the ck suit who had just handed over the documents quickly retrieved the stack of A4 papers from therge desk.

    "The security team and the monitoring room have each positioned two people, and specially customized monitoring sensors now cover 90% of the entire base, though the containers might cause some interference..." the other man began, his words trailing off hesitantly.

    The standard containers filling up 911 Aircrew Base to the brim were an unforeseen new situation.

    The monitoring sensors could detect the remains of the Metallic Dragons within a certain range, but other metal materials could also cause a degree of interference and false rms.

    "No worries, ensureprehensive coverage first, with no omissions or blind spots, and pay special attention to the main traffic arteries. Report immediately if anything is discovered, understood?"

    Hanna Gagel continued, "If the Dragon Heart Core is retrieved, I will personallymend you, and thepany won''t let you down either."

    "Thank you, Manager Hanna!"

    The two men in ck suits and sunsses gradually adapted to the changed roles.

    "I hope to hear good news soon."

    The executive manager''s delicate figure seated in therge office chair resembled a throne.

    Various departments of the Aircrew Base remained unaware that near them, a small team operating quietly and yet not belonging to any department had increased their numbers.

    -

 Chapter 50: Section 50 - Busy

    In the Dragon n of the Cangqiong Realm, the Metallic Dragons have always been viewed as outliers.

    Light, Dark, Water, Fire, Wind, Gold, Earth, Wood, Lightning, Spirit, and Space¡ªthe eleven main branches of elemental magic. Only the Metallic Dragons seemed to be without affinity for magic, yet they were known as the "Divine Weapons," naturally aggressive and cruelly brutal. They weren''t pushovers but rather iron-hard and prone to inflict harm as much to the touch as to the heart if mishandled.

    Only the Silver Dragons of the Space Series could perfectly counter the Metallic Dragons, easily disposing of them by tossing them into the chaos of spatial currents¡ªa finished business!

    Even thirty years ago, the Metallic Dragons had a great opportunity when their entire n was collectively upgraded to the digital dragon level, acquiring many new abilities. Though finally able to cast spells, including those of more than one elemental series, they still fell short of the other elemental dragons, who wielded their magic as naturally as an extension of their body.

    Being inherently devoid of spiritual power and unable toprehend the concept of space, the Metallic Dragons remainedpletely insted from psychic and space magics, even after their upgrades.

    From a certain perspective, the Metallic Dragons'' casting ability was conditional; they needed to convert from weapons to magic artifacts or even electrical devices. If not charged with a magic crystal full of Magic Element and a Crystalline Block brimming with electricity, their new powers remained merely ornamental.

    The upgrade simply expanded their capabilities and created an unprecedented branch of dragonkind without fundamentally altering their nature.

    Lacking innate magic and spiritual power, the reason the Metallic Dragons had not been expelled from the Dragon n wasrgely due to them, like other dragons, possessing a Dragon Soul¡ªan unalterable fact.

    Like the dragons of all other series, the souls of the Metallic Dragons resided within their Heart Core.

    As dragons aged and the years passed, their Heart Core would purify and eventually crystallize into a sparkling Dragon Crystal, with powerful dragons even seeing their bones gradually crystallize.

    The value of a Dragon Heart Core could nearly ount for a third of a dragon''s remains. Even if not used to create special devices or equipment, it could be traded with the Dragon n, including the Metallic Dragons, for very precious resources. Even the historically priceless SEG core unit could be obtained, tantamount to the hardest currency in both the Cangqiong Realm and the Blue Star Realm.

    The sessive Dragon Kings of the Dragon Race never missed an opportunity to reim the Heart Core of their kin. All fallen Dragon Souls should eternally rest in Sky Dragon City. Dragons, though not avaricious, were never short of money. If handled properly, a single Dragon Heart Core might be exchanged for another immense profit of one hundred billion Star Yuan.

    In search of the elusive Metallic Dragon Heart Core, Hanna Gagel, a Level Two Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, arrived at Aircrew Base 911 with this secret mission. Holding the position of executive manager would provide ample convenience and cover for the covert investigation.

    As everyone''s attention was drawn to the unlucky "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron with the new official''s first big move, Hanna Gagel''s team had already quietly begun their arrangement.

    -

    Under the leadership of Major Chekhov, the squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, all pilots were actively responding to the first challenge posed by the new executive manager, Hanna Gagel, vignt and not giving the opponent any opportunity to take advantage.

    As the deputy squadron leader, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was simrly too busy to continue giving Chen Fei lessons. She simply tossed him her own flight notebook and let him y with a gaming console, amassing some flight experience from scratch, which was basically of little help in learning to fly.

    The contents of the flight notebook were less about flying experience and more an understanding of three-dimensional spatial movement.

    Terrestrial creatures tend to perceive the world in two dimensions, while flying creatures and marine animals add another dimension with height and depth.

    Chen Fei hadn''t had the chance to study "Devil Pepper" Teacher''s flight notebook in detail before he was called by the logistics department of the Aircrew Base to help.

    The three main departments of Aircrew Base 911¡ªthe logistics department handling life and materials, the ground crew responsible for all equipment use, and the Aircrew Department in charge of flying andbat operations¡ªall departments had various teams managed by the executive manager.

    The "Luo Jing Number" Phantom-366MAX Heavy Transport Airship brought so many supplies to 911 in one go through its formidable carrying capacity that it far exceeded the base''s normal consumption rate. It would take at least a decade, if not more, to use them all.

    Moreover, there was arge amount of perishable goods; thanks to the Crystalline Magic Array-powered preservation containers, they could be kept fresh for several years, but the sudden reception of such a wealth of supplies still required a lot of manpower to reorganize and categorize them and make a proper usage n.

    A giant standard container is not a child''s ything, and moving them around is certainly not a simple and easy task.

    Now in the Blue Star Realm, there is nock of spatial series alchemy storage devices from the Cangqiong Star. These alchemical products are perfectly suitable for storing and organizing a vast amount of materials.

    However, the aircrew bases have no use for the smaller-capacity spatial series alchemy storage devices, and therger ones are astronomically expensive.

    Thoseparable to gigantic warehouses, the ultrarge spatial series alchemy storage devices with tens of thousands of cubic meters of capacity, are simply out of reach for private military contractors like the Apocalypse Defense Group. Only first-rate and second-rate sovereign states that are not short on cash can afford them.

    Slightly poorer and low-tier third-rate sovereigns can only look on and sigh with envy.

    Moreover, using spatial series alchemy storage devices isn''t something just anyone can do.

    At a minimum, one must possess a certain level of spiritual power strength. Otherwise, after a few uses, one''s spiritual power would be nearly depleted, which would just be an exercise in futility.

    It would be better to honestly use containers and rely on manpower for moving them.

    For an aircrew base, spatial series alchemy storage devices, though very convenient for storing and organizing materials, are still too high-end.

    Therefore, the logistics department, which oversees multiple groups and is responsible for the day-to-day living and material management of the aircrew base, was incredibly busy from the get-go, almost copsing from collective exhaustion and forced to temporarily borrow manpower from other departments.

    Neers have no rights, like bricks used wherever they are needed. This unwritten rule of the workce is the same everywhere.

    Even with Big Brother Xiao''s protection, Chen Fei could not escape this. An originally half workday that belonged to the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was temporarily lent to the logistics department.

    Fortunately, out of respect for this burly mechanic, the logistics department did not dare to treat Chen Fei like a beast of burden. Instead, they assigned him a simple job that they didn''t have time to handle yet but nevertheless required a helping hand, to ensure the neer could get up to speed as quickly as possible.

    In fact, within the entire 911 aircrew base, there were hardly any idle hands. It wasn''t just the logistics department''s cleaning and warehousing groups that were borrowing people across departments; just about everywhere was understaffed.

    Even with such consideration, Chen Fei still saw a mountain of trash umting to three or four meters in height.

    The air was filled with a foul stench, which came from the categorized garbage bins at the foot of the trash mountain, filled with all sorts of household waste. Flies buzzed around them, indicating it had been days since they werest managed.

    With a little over two hundred people, even without work, just their eating and drinking would inevitably produce a lot of garbage daily.

    If full-scale workmenced, the consumption of arge amount of materials would result in an even more considerable amount of waste.

    If this trash wasn''t disposed of properly, it would not only waste the limited space of the high-ground tform where the aircrew base was located but would also severely pollute the environment, possibly incurring a huge fine.

    The 911 aircrew base has always sorted and processed various types of waste. Biodegradable waste mainlyes from the canteen and personal daily life, including food scraps, paper, used stic products, reced engine and lubricating oils¡ªall tossed into reaction tanks, sprayed with biodegradable agent, and quickly dposed into fertilizer.

    The grass beside the main runway and the various green nts scattered throughout the base have grown from these fertilizers little by little.

    Non-dposable ss, ceramics, metals, and other organic or inorganic materials are separated by maic detection equipment, then processed into multi-colored ss bricks and alloy bars by crushing machines and smelting equipment, either reused on-site or awaiting transport to specializedpanies for recycling.

    The aircrew base already has some small smelters and metalworking facilities. Local sourcing and resource recycling can effectively reduce supply pressure and operational costs.

    -

 Chapter 51: Section 51 - Waste Utilization

    At the Aircrew Base, many tasks could be assisted by highly automated machinery, which meant that manualbor was not needed in excess.

    After all,pared to the cost of machinery, humanbor is often quite expensive. Read thetest tale on M-VL-em|p,yr

    Especially high-educated individuals, university graduates these days are treated as preciousmodities, and no one is willing to have them move bricks or carry heavy loads.

    What Chen Fei had to do was simply to follow the manual, press some buttons, and pull a few levers, and he could easily get the job done.

    Although these tasks were very basic and had no technical content, the logistics department''s several teams just couldn''t spare the energy to deal with them at this critical juncture, as everyone was working overtime to sort out container materials. It was the perfect opportunity to hand over the simple tasks to Chen Fei.

    For a recent undergraduate university graduate, getting the hang of it had absolutely no difficulty, with just a little guidance, he could quickly be proficient.

    In just a few minutes, Chen Fei had processed the umted days'' worth of household and kitchen waste. The biodegradable agent automatically sprayed inside the reaction tank worked wonders. The pervasive stench began to quickly fade, and with a gust of wind, there was hardly any odd smell left.

    Under the right temperature and humidity conditions, in no more than 24 hours, biological tissue and sticponents would bepletely dposed by various bacteria and active enzymes into aplex organic paste rich in elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. After being dehydrated and granted, it became ready-to-use organic fertilizer.

    Inorganic materials and metals that the biodegradable agent couldn''t "digest" would be filtered out for further processing.

    The real time-consuming work was dealing with the waste from various departments, especially the defunct aviation consumables and over-guaranteed spare parts from the maintenance team. There were all sorts of things, mostly made of metals, stics, ss, and ceramics.

    Like now, a "little pot" that had tumbled all the way down from the "small mountain" to Chen Fei''s feet, which really had everything in it!

    Bending over to pick up this "little pot" and examining it in his hands, Chen Fei felt an inexplicable craving, wanting to try taking a bite to taste it. He strongly suppressed this bizarre "pica" thought, which, like "Phantosmia," was a side effect of the magic potion. It probably couldn''t be cured, so he had to constantly ovee it himself.

    It turned out that this rectangr "pot" was neither a hotpot nor a pot for cooking, but a directional antenna pot for sending and receiving radio signals. Looking at the parameters printed on the back, it supported various frequency bands and could send radio signals as far as fifteen kilometers.

    Apart from some minor deformations to the external metal parts, this thirty-centimeter diameter antenna pot seemedrgely intact and perhaps could still be used.

    Originally intending to give it a try, Chen Fei found more than a dozen wireless AP endpoints in the mountain-like pile of garbage. It seemed that the Aircrew Base was undergoing an old equipment change recently, directly retiring these old devices from their original positions and dumping them here to be dposed and recycled.

    After powering up the AP endpoints and connecting with a smartphone, to his surprise, they all worked fine and could be used normally.

    This was simply too wasteful.

    Those well-fed don''t know the plight of the hungry; the Aircrew Base was recycling still-usable, old AP endpoints, while back in the vige, Teacher Shen Fei had been living as if cut off from the world, without anymunication.

    If they could be put back into use...

    An idea struck Chen Fei, and without much hesitation, he swiftly put it into action.

    The pile of waste waiting to be processed was actually a small treasure trove, always yielding some surprisingly clever gadgets.

    After some more digging, Chen Fei found eight more antenna pots, over a hundred AP endpoints of the same model, about ten AC controllers, several types of directional antennas with different specifications, more than a dozen omnidirectional universal antennas, severalrge rolls of fiber optics totaling over a kilometer, and high-speed copper corework cables.

    Plus, he found about a dozen pairs of full-duplex photoelectric signal rys, switches reced along with the AP endpoints, some sr panels, a few sets of chemical batteries still with 60% capacity, various specifications of DC converter modules, a few stainless-steel boxes, and even several book-sized miniputers.

    It seemed to coincide with the Aircrew Base''s batch upgrade ofwork equipment, which was why so many things were exchanged out.

    Being a bona fide university graduate, even though he studied economics, Chen Fei had some understanding of what equipment was needed to set up a home wirelesswork. Not to mention, one could always "ask AI" about anything uncertain, andbined with a few bridging devices, a major project could be sessfully aplished.

    The items scavenged from the trash heap, though they came from different ces and were intended for various uses, could be patched together. By finding the corresponding support protocols, frequency bands, interfaces, and electrical standards, it was feasible to construct a segmental wirelessmunication rywork link, limited to civilian use and not too demanding.

    The logistics department had no objections to Chen Fei''s idea; on the contrary, they provided some assistance.

    After all, Teacher Shen was a neighbor of the Aircrew Base, and there was frequent interaction between them. Helping a neighbor connect to thework was a simple task, especially since it was recycling waste without much additional cost.

    It made sense to utilize these outdated devices rather than dismantle and scrap them, and the base was more than willing to do so.

    With the high-precision contour maps borrowed from the control tower and the dedicated publicwork interface obtained from themunications team, Chen Fei, during his night shifts guarding the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, quickly nned out the wireless ry link points and assembled part of the equipment.

    He nned to set up a signal ry every eight kilometers between the Aircrew Base and a mountainous area school, with two directional antenna dishes handling radio signal transmission and reception in different directions,munication ess points converting and amplifying the signals, and sr power as the energy source.

    Chemical batteries stored energy, with capacitor batteries as backup redundancy. Once fully charged, they could work for a week, enough to withstand extreme weather.

    The entirework link''s highest bandwidth could reach 6742 Mbps. Considering interference and loss, at least 40 to 50 percent stable bandwidth remained, with an eptable signal dy. It was more than sufficient for use, even in rainy or snowy weather.

    On a rare day off, Chen Fei started working on it himself.

    He pulled out an outdoor fiber optic cable from the main gate of the Aircrew Base and drilled holes in rocks along the way to insert rock bolts to secure the fiber optic, extending the cable to a location five kilometers from the base where he used three regenerated metal pipes and foam cement to construct the first ry station.

    The active antenna dish had a transmission power of 3W, providing plenty of redundancy for weather interference, with the ess point''s own WIFI antenna capable of coveringwork signals within a 500-meter outdoor radius.

    The walking distance from the Aircrew Base to Teacher Shen Fei''s school in the mountainous area was about 21 kilometers. Starting with a fiber optic cable saved five kilometers, leaving only 16 kilometers to be covered by three ry stations.

    Building a ry station didn''t take much time; it could be done in less than half an hour since Chen Fei had prepared much of the work during his spare time.

    The most time-consuming part was transporting equipment along the mountain ridge.

    After making two trips back and forth, it was only when the sun was nting westward that Chen Fei, pushing a unicycle cart, arrived at the location of thest ry station.

    Dogs barked incessantly in Teacher Shen Fei''s schoolyard, with both "Ah Mao" and "Ah Hu" raising a ruckus.

    As Chen Fei approached, the barking stopped abruptly, leaving the school inplete silence. Chen Fei shouted loudly, "Teacher Shen, it''s me!"

    He knew very well that the two dogs had started their insistent barking because he had disturbed them by projecting a positioning guidanceser beam from the second ry station toward the school''s location.

    Although dogs can only distinguish a few colors, they could still keenly sense unusual bright spots of light.

    The ry station was closer to the school than nned, about 6.7 kilometers away, which meant that the signal would be stronger and more stable.

    "Eh? Chen Fei, it''s you! You really scared the life out of me. It''s alright, students, nothing to worry about!"

    Shen Fei''s head popped up from behind the school wall, along with the muzzle of a gun, but when she saw it was Chen Fei, pushing a unicycle cart, she immediately rxed.

    -

 Chapter 52: Section 52 - Xitong Net

    The sudden restlessness and frenzied barking of the dogs immediately put the teachers and students on alert. The clear sound of reading vanished in an instant, and even the barking quickly quieted down. The entire courtyard fell silent, as if it were empty, eerily quiet.

    Those who had rooted themselves here, dedicating their efforts to educational support and cultural output, were certainly not naive. They would never base their safety on the innocence of the local mountain people or the "rules" of the bandits. Friends are greeted with delicious food, and enemies with rifles.

    The Type 95 automatic rifle in Teacher Shen Fei''s hands was not just for show, she would actually fire it.

    Once the rm was lifted, the courtyard once again filled with the sounds of the students''ughter and chatter, as if nothing had ever happened.

    In less than half an hour of brief bustling, the third ry station was installed in the vegetable garden at the back yard. The converted WIFI signal was strong enough to cover the entire courtyard and then some.

    Chen Fei''s phone connected smoothly to the Inte, and the mountain school finally had awork signal for the first time.

    The wireless signal strength sent over from the ry station on the distant ridge was a solid 32dbi, which, after being converted by the AP endpoint, became the mostmonly used WIFI signal, with a speed test peak of 5998Mbps. Although this fell short of the highest theoretical value, it was already an ideal result.

    "Come, ''Xiao Jiu'', say hello to Teacher Shen."

    Chen Fei had set up a video call with Chef Abel and immediately saw the bouncing little creature.

    Before leaving the Aircrew Base, he had entrusted the little bird to the chef for care.

    Abel still had no idea that this lively and adorable little creature was actually a Magical Beast from the Cangqiong Realm.

    "Jiu Jiu! Jiu!"

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu curiously examined the phone screen.

    Upon seeing Chen Fei, it immediately tried to peck at the screen with its tiny beak, as if wanting to jump into the screen to be with Chen Fei.

    Shen Fei, unexpectedly gaining inte ess, was moved and grateful as she had not expected Chen Fei to do so much for her. "Chen Fei, you''ve really gone to too much trouble. I have a satellite phone here; I can still make calls."

    She thought of the effort it must have taken to bring thework signal all the way from the Aircrew Base 911 to here, which probably cost more than a small sum just for the equipment.

    Although Teacher Shen Fei was not truly cut off from the outside world here¡ªshe had an emergency satellite phone on hand¡ªthe costs of calls and inte were exorbitant, and it couldn''t be used as casually as a regr phone.

    "We''re all fellow vigers, helping each other out is the right thing to do. Don''t worry, it didn''t cost anything. I reused old equipment that the base was discarding, along with some recycled material. At most, it''s just a bit of spare timebor, and it wasn''t too difficult."

    Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders, giving Teacher Shen Fei an unexpected answer.

    Setting up three ry stations was a mere trifle. If he had to pay for it out of his own pocket, he wouldn''t have had so much spare cash.

    Now that Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain vige school was connected to the inte, future visits could be arranged with a heads-up, eliminating the need for sudden unannounced visits that risked being in vain if no one was there.

    "Really?"

    Shen Fei was skeptical.

    "You see, there are signs of age on it."

    Without further exnation and letting facts speak for themselves, Chen Fei took out a spare AP endpoint.

    The cleaned surface of the device bore some friction marks and was not as immacte as a new one straight out of the packaging. The manufacture date on the productbel was also ten years ago ¨C a truly old and used item.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group guaranteed the quality and performance of various kinds of equipment it uniformly purchased for its subsidiary units. Despite regr recement cycles, the AP endpoint Chen Fei had couldst at least another ten years, if not twenty.

    Teacher Shen Fei shifted her gaze from the productbel on the AP endpoint and confirmed tentatively, "So you''re really not using this anymore?"

    The extravagance of the Aircrew Base 911 exceeded her imagination. If that was indeed the case, the cost wouldn''t have been much.

    Even if there were costs, they were limited to somebor and a bit ofwork bandwidth.

    For Aircrew Base 911 and the Apocalypse Defense Group, the publicwork was always in use anyway. Allocating a little bit to their neighbor, Teacher Shen Fei, didn''t really count for much.

    "More genuine than gold, in fact, there are still dozens of AP endpoints that haven''t been used up."

    Chen Fei swung the AP endpoint in his hand. He had collected hundreds, only used three, and kept the rest as spares. If any ry station malfunctioned, a direct recement was ready.

    ```

    These gadgets weren''t even worth fixing, let alone Chen Fei knowing how to repair them, recing whatever broke down¡ªpretty much the same routine as the mechanics crew.

    If the sr panels and the storage batteries were sufficient, a seamlesswork connection all the way might be possible.

    An AP end could nket a 500-meter radius with WIFI signal; two could cover a kilometer. From the Aircrew Base to Teacher Shen Fei''s school, the total distance was 21 kilometers; theoretically, just 43 AP ends would be enough.

    "You''re not viting any regtions with this, are you?"

    Shen Fei was still a bit worried.

    Although theseworking devices had been phased out and weren''t worth much, she feared that abruptly taking them out of the Aircrew Base could cause problems if someone decided to make an issue of it.

    "Do you believe that I picked these from the base''s trash heap?"

    If it hadn''t been for the logistics department asking Chen Fei to deal with those discards, he likely wouldn''t have stumbled upon so many treasures.

    Even those with independent data storages had already been cleared; any truly important equipment would never just be thrown in the trash heap but would be disassembled on the spot by specialized personnel.

    "You''re really something, my old townsman!"

    Originally thinking that Chen Fei would have to expend funds, now it seemed like a mere trifle. Shen Fei finally rxed, a smile appearing on her face.

    "Heh heh heh, a piece of cake. I''ve set up thework for you, use it with ease, free of charge..."

    Chen Fei, hearing the praise,ughed and scratched the back of his head. Before he could finish, a sudden loud bang swallowed his words.

    What the heck!

    What''s going on here?

    Before Chen Fei could understand the situation, Shen Fei reacted immediately.

    She took the Type 95 automatic rifle slung over her back, nimbly disengaged the safety, and chambered a round.

    "Take cover!"

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was never particrly peaceful, though there were no bandits to bother them, yet one should always prepare for the worst. Teacher Shen had never taken things lightly and often organized various emergency drills for the students.

    At this moment, seven or eight little ck dots were thrown in from over the walls, with two or threending even in the backyard vegetable garden.

    "Disabling bombs, duck, cover your..."

    When Shen Fei saw clearly what had been thrown into the yard, her face instantly turned ashen.

    "Wha..."

    Boom... A series of earth-shattering explosions ensued.

    Chen Fei''s ears were ringing as he felt the world around him shake. Somehow, he ended up lying on the ground, tried to lift his hand but found it as heavy as lead,pletely unable to move, and without the strength to turn around and see how Teacher Shen Fei was.

    With his peripheral vision, he could barely see some students who hadn''t managed to make it back to therge ssroom sprawled on the ground just like him, with all the ssroom window sses shattered, leaving an eerie silence inside.

    A ck and a yellow dog struggled to stand up but kept vomiting, copsing on the ground with limp legs, clearly affected as well.

    About a dozen individuals armed with automatic weapons stormed the gate or simply climbed over the walls, alternating cover as they advanced, and in the blink of an eye, they took control of both the front and back courtyards.

    One of them scanned the entire courtyard, his gaze finally resting on Chen Fei; he curled his lips into a smile, said something indistinct, and walked over to him.

    But Chen Fei''s consciousness was gradually fading.

    Help me!...

    -

    ```

 Chapter 53: Section 53 - Do it!

    Time had passed, though he knew not how long.

    Chen Fei was awakened by the pungent smell of smoke; he struggled to open his lead-heavy eyelids and found himself in a dimly lit ce, seemingly a cave, with several not-so-bright campingnterns ced in the corners.

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was known for its countless cracks and caves, somerge enough to hide thousands of people. Some local viges were even situated inside these caves, providing shelter from the wind and rain.

    Damn... Where is this?

    Footsteps approached from afar.

    The neer, seeing that Chen Fei had regained consciousness, extended a teacup towards him and asked, "Want a sip?"

    The strange smell was overpowering. Chen Fei furrowed his brow. What the hell is this stuff?

    "Where is this? Who are you? Where is Teacher Shen?"

    Instead of answering Chen Fei''s questions, the other person took back the teacup, took a sip himself, and said nonchntly, "You should be aware of your current situation. You shouldn''t be asking us these pointless questions. On the contrary, you should honestly answer our questions."

    After putting down the teacup, he casually drew his tactical belt from his waist andshed out fiercely.

    Tied up and unable to move, Chen Fei had no way to avoid the blow and took it squarely.

    The metal tip of the tactical belt left a bloody mark on his body, even through his clothes.

    "Damn it to hell!"

    Growing up, his parents had neverid a hand on him, and today, he was actually struck by someone else. The sudden harsh whip ignited rage in Chen Fei as he red at his assant.

    Don''t let me find out who you are, or my country''s battleships will park at your doorstep and st you and your ancestors with particle cannons until you doubt your existence.

    As citizens of the world''s foremost superpower, both Chen Fei and Shen Fei stood tall when outside the country.

    They were already doing well not to bully others, let alone be bullied.

    Sending battleships to protect citizens at someone''s doorstep was a routine operation. With ballistic systems on 24-hour alert and ready for global missions, cross-border strikes weren''t out of the question.

    "I am a bandit from the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area. If you can wipe out all the bandits, you might stand a chance; otherwise, shut up and answer the questions instead of asking me any," he responded with a cold, mocking sneer, thenshed out viciously again, seemingly indifferent to Chen Fei''s sovereign citizen status.

    This guy was nasty, deliberately shifting the me to all bandits in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

    Chen Fei then remembered what Chekhov, the Big Bear, had said¡ªbandits from other areas had drifted near the Aircrew Base.

    Local bandits would never target a school, but these unwee visitors surely had some nerve!

    Being college-educated, awareness wasn''t Chen Fei''s shortfall, especially since he nned to pursue further studies. He narrowed his eyebrows, deciphering the hidden implications in the bandit''s words. Yet, two harshshes ignited his fury, causing him to blurt out, "You''re not real bandits!"

    "..."

    This young man was unexpectedly sharp, pinpointing the heart of the matter swiftly. The bandit''s face darkened as he chuckled coldly and said again, "Caught on, have you? What a surprise! Well, that makes it impossible to let you leave alive."

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area isn''t small but isn''trge either. If someone got the location right, the likelihood of being exposed would increase significantly.

    Chen Fei inwardly cursed his luck. With his limited experience in Jianghu, he should have kept silent upon seeing through the disguise, but his rash outburst had now brought lethal danger upon himself.

    It was toote to fire a signal re; otherwise, none of these guys would have had a chance to escape.

    From Aircrew Base 911 to Teacher Shen Fei''s mountain school was not so far. With the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft''s speed, stepping on the elerator would get you there in no time.

    If there were artillery guns with calibers over 152 mm, it would take only half a minute for shells to strike, and even if theynded three to fifty meters off target, the oue would be the same.

    Being pushed to this extent only fueled Chen Fei''s fighting spirit; his eyes reddened as he struggled fiercely and gritted his teeth. "Go ahead and kill if you dare, just be ready to face the consequences!"

    He had already died once; what was there to fear?

    Since signing his official contract early, Chen Fei''s sry along with his benefits had significantly increased. Though burdened with a debt of 8.8 million Star Yuan, in case of mishap, his death would neatly cancel out his debts.

    Perhaps there would still be one or two steel coins left, but they essentially held no significant meaning anymore.

    "Not afraid of death? That''s brave! But that woman...hehe!"

    The man revealed a disgusting smile, actually setting his sights on Teacher Shen Fei.

    It was known here that even local bandits dared not target Teacher Shen and the school, which had been established peacefully for many years in the mountain area.

    But now, someone had crossed that line.

    Chen Fei, already seething with rage, was pushed to his absolute limit, as he hated most having his friends and family threatened.

    It was like a string had snapped in his mind.

    "Motherfucker!!!"

    Chen Fei momentarily staggered, letting out a roar. The ropes that immobilized him unexpectedly snapped one by one, clean cuts as if they had been sliced by a sharp de.

    The moment he was freed, Chen Fei, without a second thought, swung a big p across, bellowing, "Go to hell!!!"

    "You..."

    The adversary could hardly believe his eyes. Chen Fei had managed to break free from the high-strength ropes that could even bind a buffalo. He reflexively dropped his tactical belt and reached for the pistol at his waist.

    However, Chen Fei''s palm was already inches away.

    "I''m going to kill you, and then your whole family!"

    The man saw a pair of eyes ame with fiery rage, the pupils somehow turning into fragmentary gold, the ferocity and brutality hitting straight into the core of his soul.

    Thud...

    A ssh of hot, stinking blood covered the rock wall, like a bucket of red paint casually thrown onto the rugged stone.

    A head, locked in an expression of terror, collided with the roof of the cave and tumbled into the corner, still staring wide-eyed like a dead fish.

    "...huff, huff... I... huff, huff,... will... go your... mother''s...

    pussy!"

    Chen Fei seemed suddenly drained of all his energy, his hands on his knees as he panted heavily.

    Before him, the battered corpse was no longer human-shaped but a heap of mangled flesh, with a pungent smell of blood filling the air.

    Anyone else might have felt weak in the knees or even wet themselves at such a horrific scene, but Chen Fei waspletely undisturbed, nor did the increasingly strong smell of blood bother him in the slightest.

    It was hard to imagine that just over a month ago, little Chen Fei was still just a well-behaved child, awful and good citizen living in a peaceful and stable society.

    But now, he could kill without a blink of an eye, and he wasn''t sure when this ability had started.

    "Fuck you!"

    After regaining some strength, Chen Fei spat fiercely onto the ground, nced at the pile of flesh, and slightly frowned, expecting to feel difort or even nausea. However, his mind seemed unusually clear, as if he had drunk a refreshing soda on a hot summer day, leaving him invigorated from inside out, an unsettlingly strange feeling.

    Chen Fei shifted his gaze from the grisly scene back to his own hands, still hardly believing that he could distort someone''s shape with a single p, his ferocity beyondprehension!

    He didn''t notice that his pupils, which had turned to shattered gold in his fury, gradually faded back to their original ck as if nothing unusual had happened.

    He frowned as he rummaged through the bloody mess and retrieved a tactical dagger and a pistol.

    Utilizing the spoils and continuing the fight was an old tradition deeply ingrained in his bones.

    Gripping the deadly weapons, murderous intent naturally arose.

    Not far away, someone, unaware of what had just urred, loudly said, "Qiong En, take it easy, don''t kill him too quickly."

    Chen Fei didn''t hesitate. He carefully loaded the pistol, reversed his grip on the tactical dagger, and cautiously moved toward the direction of the voice.

    -

 Chapter 54: Section 54 - Indifference to Life and Death

    What college student hadn''t undergone military training? Strict ones had military training throughout the first academic year. The ancient schrs'' Six Arts¡ªrites, music, archery, charioteering, literature, and mathematics¡ªhad long been revived. Even if not mastering all, mastering one was essential.

    Rites: socializing, negotiating, foreignnguages

    Music: singing, ying instruments, lyric writing,posing

    Archery: firearms, bows and arrows, artillery

    Charioteering: horse riding, vehicle driving, boat piloting, aircraft piloting

    Literature: soft and hard pen calligraphy, writing

    Mathematics: mental arithmetic, abacus, logic, statistics, reasoning

    If one couldn''t master even one, let alone graduate, they couldn''t even get a certificate of attendance.

    The college students, selected through stringent assessments from elementary to high school, were called the "pride of the Ivory Tower." This was no exaggeration. Those with slightly weaker learning abilities were directly eliminated and relegated to vocational schools at most obtaining an associate degree.

    Nowadays, it was no longer an era where undergraduates were asmon as dogs and PhDs roamed the streets; after all, the poption base was right there. Even with strict demands on higher education quality, there was still a sufficient number of talents avable.

    For Chen Fei, firearms operation was a basic military training subject for college freshmen, although it was almost never used at home, so it wasn''t too unfamiliar.

    Teacher Shen Fei was the same. Upon arriving at the elementary school in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, she had automatically locked in this skill, extremely proficient in firearms operation, and had chosen a replicated version of the Type 95 automatic rifle for self-defense.

    Once the nation''s precious flowers went abroad, they all turned into man-eaters. The true high elimination rate of elite education started to show its effectiveness.

    "Qiong En! Qiong En?"

    The person who heard no response started to get suspicious, and just then, Chen Fei suddenly appeared within his line of sight.

    The man''s eyes abruptly widened, and his mouth opened as if to shout.

    "He..."

    Bang, bang, bang!

    Three consecutive gunshots rang out in the cave, exceptionally ear-splitting.

    The distance between them wasn''t even three meters, no shots missed, and seeing three blood spots bursting from the other person''s chest, taking advantage of the warmth, Chen Fei hurriedly rushed over to frantically search him.

    He gained another pistol, two magazines, an AK-47 of unknown origin, and several hand grenades. Right there, he switched from the pistol to the automatic rifle, upgrading his armament, which made him feel even more secure.

    ording to the information revealed by the guy who had whipped him with a belt earlier, not only he, but also Teacher Shen Fei and perhaps the elementary students, had been tied up here.

    What exactly did these guys want to do?

    Very aware of the advantage of striking first but knowing it wouldn''tst long, Chen Fei didn''t have time to think much longer and nned to rescue Teacher Shen Fei before those unidentified armed people could react.

    If there were others, he''d have to y it by ear. He''d save whoever he could. If he couldn''t save them, he could only me his own misfortune.

    The gunshots inevitably rmed the other armed personnel.

    "Who''s shooting? Qiong En? Francois?"

    The response was a small object that bounced over from the rock wall, hopping along the way.

    A blinding sh of brilliant white light suddenly made the whole world explode... Boom!

    An earth-shattering explosion!

    Despite being prepared, the violent st wave still nearly threw Chen Fei off his feet.

    The shockwave pushed him back several steps, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

    The Disabling Bomb detonated in such a nearly enclosed space within the depths of the cave had its power not just incrementally but unexpectedly amplified by quite a substantial margin, an unforeseen ordinary impact.

    Damn, that''s solid!

    Even though he covered his ears, the shock still left Chen Fei dazed. He bit his tongue hard and shook his head vigorously to bring himself back to a sharper awareness, immediately rushing forward with the recently confiscated AK-47 in hand.

    He hadn''t noticed that at some point, he had begun to regard human life as grass, facing bloodshed as though it wasmonce, or even normal.

    To be indifferent to life and death, if you can''t bear it, fight!

    If you''re going to fight, fight until you''re out cold!

    Screw you!!!

    The gunfire raged chaotically, and Chen Fei responded with a barrage of bullets at the sight of the armed men, showing no mercy whatsoever.

    In the face of 7.62mm caliber justice, there were never any heroes or valiant men.

    One shot meant near death, if not crippling injury, let alone several shots; even an elephant would be brought down on the spot.

    Seizing the opportunity, Chen Fei instantly took down four unsuspecting armed men disabled by the Disabling Bomb, their once brisk and arrogant demeanor during the school attack now nothing more than a pitiful scramble on the ground like dying dogs, weakly iling their limbs as they awaited a bullet.

    The remaining armed men, unaffected by the Disabling Bomb due to their distance, finally realized the situation and began to return fire amidst confused screams.

    Bullets flew chaotically, striking against the cave walls, sending chips of stone flying in all directions.

    Chen Fei was lucky, and braving the bullets, he risked a dash and found shelter in a small stone chamber, where he unexpectedly encountered Teacher Shen Fei.

    Shen Fei was tightly bound just like him, but her legs were free, and she continuously delivered groin kicks to an armed man, strike after strike until the man''s face turned pale, his body trembled uncontrobly, and he couldn''t even scream until Shen Fei, seeing Chen Fei rolling in with a gun, slowed her kicks as if finally relieved, his eyes rolled back as he fell back like a rotting log, still utterly silent and convulsing weakly.

    Hiss...

    Seeing this scene, Chen Fei couldn''t help but wince and took a sharp breath.

    It looked like the man on the ground had nefarious intentions, but Teacher Shen caught him off-guard, and even if he survived, he would definitely be crippled.

    Chen Fei quickly nced at Shen Fei from top to bottom and hurriedly asked, "Teacher Shen, are you alright?"

    "Don''t just stand there, help me untie these ropes."

    Shen Fei delivered another kick to the head of the unfortunate guy whose lower half she had kicked earlier.

    Chen Fei quickly used his tactical dagger to cut the ropes binding Teacher Shen Fei.

    Shen Fei picked up another AK lying in the corner of the stone chamber, swiftly pulled the slide, gathered a few hand grenades, walked over to the chamber entrance, and fired several shots blindly outside before saying to Chen Fei, "Shall we fight our way out?"

    "Yes... be careful!"

    Chen Fei was about to agree when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow moving at the chamber entrance. Without thinking, he stepped forward, shielding Shen Fei with his body while he raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the chamber entrance.

    Suddenly, a figure with an AK-47 jumped out at the chamber entrance.

    The gunfire violently shed as Chen Fei and the figure chose to engage in a fight to the death, firing at each other at such close range, neither able to dodge the bullets, both subconsciously squeezing the trigger, emptying a magazine in seconds.

    Shot!

    As the gunfire ceased, the only thought in Chen Fei''s mind was,

    Damn... I''m screwed again!

    Only a month into the job, and I''ve died twice already¡ªmy luck is cursed!

    The unexpected shootout caught Shen Fei off guard, and by the time she reacted, the gunfire had already died down. She saw the man outside the chamber propped against the rock wall, helplessly seated on the ground, blood gushing out in great spurts, his chest mangled by 7.62mm bullets¡ªbeyond saving, even by a Daluo Golden Immortal.

    The unhesitating Chen Fei, facing the enemy alone, was not much better off.

    It was clear to her that his trembling body amid the gunfire had definitely taken hits.

    If it weren''t for Chen Fei shielding her, then by now...

    "Chen Fei!"

    Shen Fei cried out in agony, hurrying to embrace the staggering Chen Fei as he copsed.

    "Chen Fei, Chen Fei, are you alright?"

    No living being, not even an elephant, could survive unscathed after taking so many bullets.

    Only upon hearing Shen Fei''s voice did Chen Fei finallye around and honestly admitted, "Uh... I''m fine, just a bit dizzy from your shaking."

    He couldn''t understand why in movies, those close to death always grimaced painfully with fierce expressions, yet when it came to his own imminent death, he felt nothing at all?

    Was it really so painless that one could die just by closing their eyes?

    He waspletely unaware that he was being held in a full embrace by the soft and gentle Shen Fei.

    -

 Chapter 55: Section 55 - Impervious to Swords and Guns

    Hearing Chen Fei''s full-bodied speech, Shen Fei paused, reached out to touch his chest, and her cheeks quickly flushed with a slight red.

    "Where is your bulletproof vest?"

    Behind the bullet-riddled clothes were clearly solid muscles; there wasn''t even a sign of blood, clearly no bulletproof vest. She felt extremely embarrassed, but... what on earth was going on?

    Chen Fei appeared unharmed, but the question now was, where had the bullets that were fired at him gone?

    "Heh, go to hell and be a pair of miserable lovebirds!"

    A coldugh echoed from the chamber''s exit.

    Chen Fei and Shen Fei looked towards the sound and saw three armed personnel blocking the exit, their dark muzzles aimed straight at them.

    Getting distracted in a battle would absolutely lead to fatal mistakes.

    Chen Fei and Shen Fei were indeedcking in experience, and careless for a moment, allowing the enemy to take advantage of their vulnerability.

    An amateur might hold the advantage for a moment due to sheer luck, but failing to defeat the expert with a flurry of punches, they could easily be overturned by an experienced professional seizing the opportunity.

    Seeing Chen Fei shot, Teacher Shen Fei was so disoriented that she forgot to guard herself, allowing the other armed personnel to resolutely take advantage and approach the stone chamber''s exit.

    Pfft!~

    At that moment, the face of the speaking armed personnel suddenly felt inexplicably warm as if doused with adle of warm liquid. Reflexively wiping it off, he was horrified to see a shocking, crimson color.

    It was blood!

    Turning his head, he discovered that hisrade to the left was now only standing from the waist down; their upper body had been split into seven or eight pieces, with organs scattered all around, emitting a foul stench.

    Not far down the cave tunnel, a woman dressed in formal attire approached, her left eye covered with a ck patch, and her right hand gently cradling a ser-ball-sized, ceaselessly swirling Mist Sphere.

    The swiftly moving mist deep within carried faint, sharp screams, as if from a Hyakki Yagyo, wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves.

    Thepanion who was dismembered gaped in shock and roared immediately, "Who are you?"

    At the same time, he hesitated not at all to turn his gun and fire fiercely.

    There was no such woman among hisrades.

    If she wasn''t one of their own, then she was certainly an enemy.

    Bullets had barely left the gun''s muzzle before they seemed to sink into a quagmire, all halted in midair, slowly rotating before collectively ttering to the ground.

    Without warning, a tearing sound thundered in the cave tunnel; the two armed personnel firing with all their might seemed to be shed across their bodies by several invisible des, shattering instantly together with their weapons into distinguishable mounds of flesh, and the intense gunshots abruptly ceased.

    The escapees, Chen Fei and Shen Fei, looked at each other, bewildered.

    Had they seen a ghost?

    Three perfectly alive men had been bizarrely dismembered into pieces.

    Especially Shen Fei, unlike Chen Fei who seemed unfazed by the mangled corpses, could not help but feel nauseous, herplexion turning very pale.

    Hearing footsteps approaching, she immediately struggled to her feet. Chen Fei quickly grabbed an AK-47 automatic rifle beside him, loaded a magazine, pulled the bolt, and aimed in the direction of the chamber''s exit.

    "Is that Chen Fei?"

    The footsteps stopped, and a woman''s voice followed, clearly aware there were people inside the chamber.

    Chen Fei shouted, "Who is it?"

    The other party replied, "It''s me, the executive manager, Hanna Gagar. It seems I''ve arrived just in time."

    Hanna Gagar, a former Level Two Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group, now the executive manager at the 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei''s immediate superior.

    Chen Fei let out a long sigh, lowered his gun, and said to Shen Fei, "It''s okay, it''s one of us, the new executive manager from the 911 Aircrew Base."

    This wasn''t his first interaction with this female inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, nor was it the first time he had heard her voice. There must be no mistake.

    None of the armed personnel were women, nor would they attack their own. It was just unclear how this female executive manager had found this ce.

    Tap, tap, tap...

    Footsteps reached the chamber''s exit, and there stood Hanna Gagar in professional attire, her left eye covered with a ck patch, still casually holding a swirling Mist Sphere in her right hand. With a squeeze of her fingers, the volleyball-sized Mist Sphere quickly dissipated, a fierce wind blowing through the cave tunnel.

    "Special Ability, or Magic?"

    Shen Fei was stunned; this was definitely not something a normal person could do, nor was it very likely to be the work of high technology.

    Hanna Gagel nodded slightly in greeting, then casually said, "It''s nothing, I am a Wind-type Ability User, Teacher Shen Fei. Nice to meet you for the first time; I hope to learn more from you in the future."

    "You, hello!"

    The eyepatch on the other person''s face involuntarily made Teacher Shen Fei''s hair stand on end.

    Having single-handedly eliminated the remaining armed personnel, this Second-Level Inspector from the Apocalypse Defense Group''s Ministry of Internal Affairs was indeed not so simple.

    Hanna Gagel motioned towards the cave passage with a wave of her hand.

    A series of urgent, heavy footsteps approached, and several men carrying automatic weapons, also wearing tactical helmets and lightweight individual armor, quickly rushed over; she was not alone in this venture.

    Chen Fei noticed that these men''s attire was not that of the Aircrew Base security personnel.

    The female executive manager of Aircrew Base 911 sized up Chen Fei and said to her subordinates who came over, "Give me the detector!"

    A small suitcase-like object was handed to her.

    Chen Fei''s hair involuntarily stood on end. What kind of secret weapon was this? He immediately panicked.

    Beep! ~

    The suitcase-like object beeped twice, then fell silent.

    "It looks like there''s none!"

    The tone of Hanna Gagel seemed somewhat disappointed as she handed the object back.

    She then turned to Chen Fei again and said undeniably, "Open your shirt!"

    ¦²(¡Ñ_¡Ñ!)¦õ

    What do you want to do? I sell art, not my body, what are you trying to do?

    Chen Fei felt a chill on his chest as his shirt was lifted. Damn...

    It was Teacher Shen Fei who did it, looking at this clear-browed, beautiful girl, she was such a person! Hey, hey, can you check the situation first?

    A boy out in the world should protect himself well.

    "No injuries!"

    Seeing is believing, Shen Fei finally confirmed her spection, coincidentally thinking along the same lines as the female executive manager of the Aircrew Base 911, the two exchanged a look unwittingly.

    "What?"

    Chen Fei looked down in disbelief, using the dim light from a corner campingmp to clearly see that there was not a bullet hole nor a trace of being whipped severely by a tactical belt on his chest; there were no red spots or bruises, only his clothes were tattered, obviously from the bullets.

    Upon briefly recalling, he quickly remembered that during the shootout, his chest felt like it had been pummeled by a series of small fists, pushing him involuntarily to keep retreating, but indeed he didn''t feel any particr pain.

    Actually, the bullet holes on Chen Fei''s clothes were not only in front of his chest and abdomen; being able to roll all the way to the stone chamber where Teacher Shen Fei was located was not just luck. The adversary was skilled in shooting; he had been hit by many bullets, but he was too busy rolling and crawling to notice.

    "Indeed, it''s very likely an Ability Awakening!"

    Hanna Gagel withdrew her gaze, not too surprised.

    "How is that possible?"

    Chen Fei shook his head vigorously. It wasn''t like he had never undergone a supernatural talent test.

    In fact, everyone, from birth, undergoes a talent test at the ages of 6, 12, and 18 to determine if there is an Ability Awakening, Magical Elemental Affinity, spiritual power strength, and Battle Qi potential among other tests.

    He hadpleted the three tests long ago and was apletely talentlessmoner.

    Actually, whether his spiritual power was strong, whether he had any special abilities, whether he could perform magic, or whether he could consolidate a Battle Qi Seed didn''t really make much difference to Chen Fei. A hardworkingmoner really didn''t need to think about all these possibilities, and even without these abilities, he wouldn''t be easily bullied.

    After all, it was a society governed byw now; dialling 110 would bring stronger War Professionals, Mages, and supernatural powerw enforcement officers to uphold justice. Relying on a slight talent to show off was purely overthinking.

    The appearance of many new things, in reality, didn''t have much impact on themon people''s daily life essentials like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and tea.

    "Anything can happen; there are not just one or two cases of people awakening abilities after the age of 60. When we get back to the base, I''ll give you a detailed test. Can you still walk?"

    Hanna Gagel could see that Chen Fei was actually fine, just a bit shocked.

    -

 Chapter 56: Section 56 - Unknown Origin

    "Manager Hanna, how did you find this ce?"

    Chen Fei was somewhat perplexed. He had gone out alone and fallen into the hands of these armed personnel of unknown identity at Teacher Shen Fei''s school, yet this female executive manager had found him so quickly. Even if he hadn''t suddenly fought back, it wouldn''t have been long before he regained his freedom.

    "Your phone was on a video call with Chef Abel the whole time, the AP end installed has a signal direction-finding function, and your health bracelet also has inte connectivity and positioning features."

    Hanna Gagel shrugged her shoulders; Chen Fei''s question wasn''t hard to answer.

    If it weren''t for him setting upwork rys along the way and video-calling Chef Abel, the 911 Aircrew Base wouldn''t have known at the first moment that he was hijacked by armed personnel of unknown origin.

    Made use of by wastes, the repurposed AP end, not a household model, had some special features built in, which were identally activated and came into y, an unexpected gain Chen Fei hadn''t foreseen.

    "So that''s how it was!"

    Chen Fei suddenly realized.

    He suddenly noticed some movement at the top of the cavern and looked up.

    Several ck eight-legged mechanical bodies, resembling spiders, were rapidly crawling on the cavern wall surface, following the direction Manager Hanna Gagel left, and soon disappeared from Chen Fei''s sight.

    It turned out that this female executive manager relied not only on her special abilities but also on some technological equipment.

    Neither the 911 Aircrew Base nor the Apocalypse Defense Group could be considered an easy target by anyone living in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area; once they took matters seriously, these armed personnel trying to kidnap Chen Fei and Shen Fei would be instantly annihted.

    Chen Fei and Shen Fei searched through the cavern, which was over a hundred meters deep, and finally heaved a sigh of relief.

    The unidentified armed personnel hadn''t kidnapped the primary school students but had brought just the two of them here.

    Manager Hanna Gagel''s team was collecting evidence at the scene, analyzing the origins and backgrounds of these people.

    Whether it was the 911 Aircrew Base or the Apocalypse Defense Group, they would not be able to swallow this affront if someone dared target their employees.

    As Chen Fei had guessed, although these armed personnel superficially seemed no different from the typical bandits roaming the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, with unkempt hair and ragged clothes, their old patched AK rifles appearing weather-beaten, many suspicious details were still found.

    The AK-47s of the armed personnel were merely aged on the surface; internal parts like firing pins, recoil springs, and rifling were all brand new and showed little wear. Even the ammunition was fresh from the standard assembly line, a luxury setup beyond the reach of real bandits wielding old AKs and hand-loaded ammo.

    The condition of scattered AK-47s in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was often pathetic, with bullets drifting aimlessly once fired. Many were only capable of firing single shots, with jamming amon issue.

    Barrel explosions were not rare either; continuous firing could quickly lead the materials to be red-hot and soften due to quality issues, significantly increasing the likelihood of idents.

    Items like Disabling Bombs, Field Rations, small radios, and Satellite Phones were also beyond the reach ofmon bandits.

    Other details, like clean socks and nearly new mountain boots, made no sense for a bandit¡ªwhy would they obsess over making their gear look old and dirty if not to create a deceiving appearance?

    All these details and doubts culminated in a growing possibility... these armed personnel, disguised as local bandits, were executing some secret covert mission.

    Hanna Gagel''s subordinates also found some specialized syringes among the seized items, causing Chen Fei to break out in a cold sweat. His and Teacher Shen Fei''s abduction was no ident but had been carefully nned.

    These armed personnel hade with a purpose, likely trying to glean some information from the 911 Aircrew Base.

    "P-99 Suggestive Injectors, Chen Fei, you haven''t said anything you shouldn''t have, have you?"

    The one-eyed executive manager shifted her gaze from the brick-sized, self-powered refrigerated storage box to Chen Fei not far away.

    The metal box, capable of maintaining an internal temperature of 4-6 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours when fully charged, contained ten slender injectors and twenty water-based syringes.

    "P-99 Suggestive Injectors," as the name suggests, was clearly nothing benign.

    Chen Fei quickly shook his head, "No, absolutely not. That guy only hit me a couple of times. I didn''t say a word more and just finished him off."

    Indeed, he had adhered to the principle of acting immediately without discussion, giving no chance for the other party to threaten or inject any substances.

    The opponent probably never imagined that this seemingly harmless young man, while beingpletely immobilized, could still im his life with a p that turned him into mush.

    "Hmm, well done!"

    Hanna Gagel nodded her head, showing no strong doubts.

    Aside fromunching a Dragon yer Missile at the Metallic Giant Dragon Bit who illegally crossed the border, this recent university graduate and neer who had just been employed for a month had never had any other interactions with the Metallic Dragons.

    By the time he returned to the Aircrew Base from the International Medical Ship, the remains of the Metallic Dragons had almost beenpletely collected by a professional team sent by the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    Being a mechanic with multiple responsibilities, he neither had the time nor the opportunity toe into contact with those materials. Even if these bandit-impersonating armed men used these injections on Chen Fei, using up all of them, they would never obtain any information they desired.

    -

    By now, darkness hadpletely fallen, and the thick smell of blood and pungent odor of gunpowder still lingered in the cave, making it unbearable to remain.

    Wrapped in a nket and sitting at the entrance of the cave, Teacher Shen Fei asked in puzzlement, "What do these guys want to do?"

    She was deeply concerned about her students, unsure if they were injured, if they had made it home, or if they had alerted the nearby Patan Vige.

    However, at this moment, personnel from the Aircrew Base were still thoroughly searching the area around the school for any potential escapees, waiting until it was truly safe before allowing Shen Fei to return to her school.

    The windows of the school had also beenrgely shattered by disabling bombs, and the staff from the Aircrew Base was helping with recements, which required some time.

    "I don''t know,"

    Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders. He guessed it might be the remains of the Metallic Giant Dragon, or possibly the Aircrew Base, or even secret equipment or confidential intelligence from their higher-ups at the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    Regardless of which it was, none of this was of concern to someone like him.

    A gust of wind brought along a scorched odor. Far away, mes soared into the sky, and plumes of ck smoke were faintly visible. After collecting fingerprints, iris patterns, facial infrared features, and gic samples, the executive manager''s team started burning the bodies.

    Despite being on opposing sides, allowing the bodies to be exposed to the wilderness and left without a burial was hardly proper. It was better, from a humanitarian perspective, to burn them to ashes, literally returning dust to dust, earth to earth.

    "Ugh! That smells horrible!"

    Teacher Shen Fei could not help covering her mouth and nose.

    "I thought it was the smell of barbecued meat, turns out it''s just stench, hahaha, novels are all deceiving,"

    Chen Fei, who had just had a narrow escape from death, still found the mood for cracking a dark joke.

    Shen Fei said gloomily, "That joke isn''t funny at all."

    She had none of the fierce decisiveness she showed when kicking the armed men earlier.

    The executive manager, who had just finished a phone call, approached Chen Fei and Shen Fei and said, "I just got the news, there are no escapees, it''s safe now. Do you two want to go back, or wait until daylight?"

    The A-39B Big Mouth Monster light turboprop attack aircraft, equipped with a reconnaissance pod, thoroughly searched an area within a 100-kilometer radius surrounding the Aircrew Base and Tampa Primary School. Combat aircraft naturally specialized in ground attack were adept at handling this task.

    Being the two unlucky kids who were kidnapped, staying here was not helpful at all.

    -

 Chapter 57: Section 57 - Difficult to Land

    "Can I go back now?"

    As soon as Shen Fei spoke, she hesitated.

    After all, this wasn''t near the school where locals repeatedly swept, nor was it near the Aircrew Base where even carrying a gun might not guarantee safety.

    "Teacher Shen, let''s wait until daylight," Chen Fei suggested, considering this as well.

    Compared to daytime, the mountains and wilderness under the cover of night seemed like twopletely different worlds, where most of the roaming carnivores were nocturnal. Walking alone at night was likely to attract these predators.

    "Don''t worry, a helicopter will take you there, it''s on its way."

    Hanna Gagar pointed in the direction of the airforce base, where a Z-9 armed helicopter had already taken off and would soon arrive at the cave''s location.

    Half an hourter, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s "Miso" Yamada Yuhu arrived in a Z-9 armed helicopter, which, guided by shlight beams on the ground,nded smoothly; two base security personnel came along with him.

    Not only did Chen Fei and Shen Fei board the helicopter to leave together, but also some organized seized materials and an underling of the executive manager.

    The nearly full Z-9 armed helicopter first flew to Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, and nearly jumped when it approached the brightly lit school from above.

    Dozens of bonfires had lit up the area brightly; people inside and outside the school were numerous, each heavily armed.

    As the Z-9 helicopter approached, it was instantly "focus fired" by numerous beams of light, frightening Yamada Yuhu and the co-pilot from getting any closer.

    Shen Fei vaguely recognized some familiar figures and hurriedly shouted, "They are students'' parents and students, not enemies!"

    The school was suddenly attacked during the day, affecting many students with disabling bombs. Parents and other locals came from all sides, armed, to defend the school and coordinate with the personnel from the airforce base in searching for the remaining armed forces.

    Even local bandits joined in¡ªno parent didn''t want their child to seed.

    The local people were nearly bursting with anger at the kidnapping of the only local schoolteacher, almost as if they had stirred up a ho''s nest, the crowd furiously indignant.

    If it weren''t for the airforce base''s immediate reaction, and the newly appointed executive manager Hanna Gagel personally leading the rescue for Chen Fei and Shen Fei, the locals might have already reached the armed group''s hideout in the caves, desperately attempting a rescue, which would have resulted in an uncontroble chaotic battle.

    "Unable tond, I can''t see anything!"

    Yamada Yuhu shouted, forced to increase the helicopter''s altitude. This was a mountainous area, not a t in, and a slight mishap could lead to a crash.

    The shlights made the helicopter cabin as bright as day, filling his field of vision with blinding white light. Due to the fire, even switching to infrared thermal imaging was ineffective,pletely disrupted by the massive heat reaction.

    This is really... awkward!

    In ces without streetlights, shlights were essential for night walks, almost a standard household item, sometimes even used to deter wild animals.

    But now, the number of shlights on the ground was far too many, more than one per person, some with particrly high light power, creating a qualitative change that focused beams like searchlights locked onto the helicopter, inescapable.

    Not even executive manager Hanna Gagar likely anticipated that bringing Teacher Shen Fei back to her school would encounter such an ordeal.

    "Figure out a way, tell them not to shine anymore!"

    Seated near the cabin door, Chen Fei could hardly keep his eyes open.

    "They can''t hear us. Our people have already retreated to the base. If it doesn''t work, we might as well head back," the co-pilot raised his voice to say.

    If it weren''t for the noise-cancelling headphones in the cabin, evenmunicating with each other would be arduous.

    The person fixing the school''s windows from the airforce base left a bitte; unfortunately, they had to rush back to continue organizing materials. They left immediately after recing the windows without staying long.

    Otherwise, they might have notified these locals on the ground, preventing the current situation of collectively shining shlights at the helicopter, making a safending impossible.

    "Open the cargo door; I''ll try something."

    Chen Fei tried his best to avoid the light from the ground.

    "Be careful, ''Rookie''!"

    Though Yamada Yuhu was unsure of how Chen Fei nned to stop the people on the ground from shining their shlights at the helicopter, he chose to trust him. After all, it was worth a try, and if it didn''t work, they could head back to the base.

    Rookie?

    Teacher Shen Fei was taken aback, puzzled as she looked at Chen Fei, not seeing any indication of being unskilled.

    Yamada Yuhu chuckled as he introduced Teacher Shen, "Teacher Shen, this guy''s flight code is ''Rookie''!"

    Chen Fei: "..."

    The security personnel at the base attached a movable safety belt to Chen Fei to prevent him from identally falling out of the cabin, and then they finally opened the cabin door.

    As soon as the cabin door opened, a more intense, more blinding light shone in, causing everyone inside to involuntarily raise their hands to block the ring lighting towards them.

    A burst of shouting erupted from the ground, at times even drowning out the huge roaring sound of the helicopter des stirring the air.

    Chen Fei tightly closed his eyes, moved to the cabin door, waved his hands towards the ground below, and then pointed to his own eyes, hoping someone would understand.

    The ground was noisy for a while, until finally, someone smart caught on.

    The number of shlights pointing at the helicopter decreased, and after extinguishing a few bonfires, the crowd began to disperse, making the normally crowded school front yard immediately be spacious.

    Those remaining formed arge circle, pointing their shlight beams towards the ground inside the yard, creating a bright circrnding area.

    Yamada Yuhu, piloting the Z-9 armed helicopter, castnding boundary light beams onto the ground, perfectly within the range of thending area, and he finally rxed.

    "It''s ready! Prepare fornding!"

    This time, the helicopter, undisturbed, gradually lowered its altitude and soonnded smoothly.

    Finally reaching her destination, Teacher Shen Fei jumped out of the helicopter and was quickly surrounded tightly by the visibly excited Patan people, yet she still did not forget to turn around, facing the wind whipped up by the des, and vigorously waved goodbye to the helicopter as it took off again.

    The locals also waved their arms at the helicopter, watching the Z-9 armed helicopter shing its navigation lights as it turned away and rapidly disappeared. They then shifted their attention back to Teacher Shen Fei.

    The scene was buzzing with people talking all at once, swarming not only students but also adults, all very concerned about her condition.

    "Teacher, teacher, are you hurt?"

    "Those bastards didn''t mess with you, did they?"

    "The people from 911 fixed the windows, the school is like new again."

    "The students are unharmed, they''re all fine, don''t worry!"

    "Make way, don''t crowd Teacher Shen."

    ...

    "Quiet! Everyone, please be quiet! Let me say a few words..."

    Teacher Shen Fei took a deep breath, gestured downwards with her hands, and everyone gradually quieted down.

    She inevitably had to talk again, finally reassuring the locals from nearby viges, who gradually dispersed.

    It was foreseeable that for a long time toe, the locals would spontaneously strengthen patrols near the school to prevent such incidents from happening again.

    The opportunity for the children to learn was truly hard toe by.

    No one wanted to see anything happen to the only good teacher left, and they would spare no effort, even at the risk of their own lives, to prevent it.

    -

    The Z-9 armed helicopter passing over Patan Elementary School returned to the Aircrew Base at three in the morning, and it would be dawn in just a few hours.

    Disembarking from the helicopter, Chen Fei felt a bit dizzy, too rushed to retrieve his Little Bird from Chef Abel, and decided to head back to his dormitory to catch up on some sleep first.

    Leaving the tarmac, he had only walked a few steps when someone hurriedly intercepted him.

    "Chen Fei, wait a moment."

    "Is there something wrong?"

    Chen Fei looked at the other person with confusion.

    Don''t recognize, never seen them before!

    -

 Chapter 58: Section 58 - Supernatural Ability Suppressant

    The man was dressed in a neat ck suit and was even wearing a pair of sunsses, making it a wonder how he could see clearly in the dead of night.

    He looked at Chen Fei and said, "You need a dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant, this is an order from Manager Hanna."

    Chen Fei was startled and asked word by word, confused, "What? A Supernatural Ability Suppressant?"

    The man''s attire looked familiar¡ªwasn''t it the uniform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group!

    The man in the ck suit and sunsses exined, "Your special ability has just awakened. To prevent loss of control, it''s best to inject the suppressant, then gradually learn to control it. This way, idents are less likely to ur. The Supernatural Ability Suppressant has no other side effects; it''s for your own good."

    Actually, the side effect of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant is the suppression of supernatural abilities; its original use was for treating neurasthenia. It''s another drug that deviated from its intended use but serendipitously hit the mark.

    Blue Star does not reject magic and Battle Qi from Cangqiong Star and is very receptive to new things like special abilities. The rich rely on technology, the poor on talent; there''s always a way out.

    Chen Fei cautiously probed, "So, does this cost money?"

    Considering that injectables for supernatural power users are generally not cheap, and given his current dire financial situation, if it were expensive, he would very regretfully have to give it up.

    Chen Fei''s question was somewhat unexpected to the man, who shook his head and said, "No, it won''t cost you anything! Thepany covers it in full."

    Thepany''s policy states that formal contract employees who awaken their abilities can get fullypany-funded suppressants to stabilize their abilities. Chen Fei, having signed a formal contract, was eligible to enjoy this provision and receive the Supernatural Ability Suppressant for free.

    The retail price of a dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant was about 5000 Star Yuan, which was generally affordable for the ordinary working ss.

    In many countries, the initial dose of the Supernatural Ability Suppressant needed for the first awakening often has a high national subsidization rate, and individuals do not have to pay much. The first dose discount aims to control and reduce the destruction caused by uncontrolled abilities, as well as to stabilize public sentiment and retain talents for the country.

    Many particr abilities are indeed better suited for governmental functions.

    "That''s great!" Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it was free, there was no problem. As he remembered something, he asked, "How many injections of this supernatural ability suppressant are necessary?"

    "Just one will suffice, the effect canst a month, but it varies from person to person. Some may experience suppression for three months. Are you ready?"

    The man in the ck suit and sunsses took out a small box, which held a needle-free syringe, the Supernatural Ability Suppressant already prepared.

    When the Z-9 armed helicopter took off with Chen Fei and others from the cave, One-Eye, the female executive manager Hanna Gagar, used a satellite phone to inform her subordinates at the 911 Aircrew Base to prepare the Supernatural Ability Suppressant for Chen Fei.

    If only considering the side effects of the drug, being able tost at least a month is quite severe and could even negate the value of the drug''s existence.

    However, for ordinary people without special abilities, this type of injection only has a therapeutic effect on neurasthenia, and the ability to suppress supernatural powers ispletely redundant.

    The broader use of this type of injection is often to limit the abilities of criminal supernatural power users; one honest injection a month, and with regr intervals of twelve injections, it can deprive them of their abilities for a year. Even the most potent abilities be indistinguishable from those of normal people during the effect of the drug.

    Research on the Supernatural Ability Suppressant has not stopped; it is even said that ab has produced a suppressant that works for a year.

    However, for initial ability awakeners, a suppression period of one to three months is more advantageous for safely learning and mastering newly acquired abilities, without feeling helpless or causing unnecessary harm to themselves and others.

    "Right here?"

    Chen Fei looked around and pointed down at his feet.

    "Right here, don''t worry. It''ll be quick!"

    The man opened the box and took out the syringe.

    "Okay then!"

    Chen Fei shrugged, rolled up his sleeve, and the man with the syringe immediately poked it towards him.

    Biu¡ªdone in one shot!

    It was over before he felt anything, which was very convenient.

    Whether the suppression willst a month or three depends on the individual''s constitution.

    But for Chen Fei, it didn''t really make a difference, as he wasn''t in a rush to use it.

    "That''s it?"

    Chen Fei inspected the ce where the injector poked, not even a little red dot was there.

    "Try your special ability, it should start taking effect now. What is your ability?"

    The man in the ck suit and sunsses put the syringe back in the box. His task wasplete. Manager Hanna had not revealed what ability the young man had just awakened over the phone; she had only instructed to prepare the suppressant.

    The Supernatural Ability Suppressant takes effect in ten seconds, almost immediately visible.

    Chen Fei paused for a moment before tentatively saying, "Emmmmmm...eating bullets, does that count as a special ability?"

    The other person stumbled, damn eating bullets.

    The supernatural abilities of the Blue Star People are quite strange, there are all kinds of them, so maybe... there really is one that specializes in eating bullets?

    -

    Ding-a-ling-a-ling...

    The tablet on the bedside table rang loudly.

    Chen Fei struggled to open his sour, heavy eyelids, yawned a long yawn, but still felt extremely exhausted.

    Yesterday, setting up the WIFI rymunication link for Teacher Shen Fei entailed at least twenty kilometers of trekking. He was then kidnapped by unidentified armed individuals posing as bandits, fortunately found the opportunity to fight back fiercely, and barely managed to escape with his life.

    He was already drained, exhausted, and a mere three hours of sleep was nowhere near enough to replenish his vitality and spirit.

    But earning money is hard, repaying debts even harder, there was really no excuse to continue lying in bed. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to get up, rushed through his bathroom routine, and his eyes still looked bloodshot in the mirror.

    He reimed his Magical Beast Bird, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, from Mr. Abel, the head chef of the base''s cafeteria.

    The little guy was exceptionally excited to see Chen Fei and immediately flew over with pping wings, hopping back and forth on his shoulder, chirping non-stop, and asionally pecking at his earlobe as if a little upset about why he hadn''te back to pick him up on time yesterday.

    As the first to know, Mr. Abel was happy that Chen Fei came back unharmed to the base, but seeing the young man yawning continuously, he knew that he must have had a tough day yesterday. Already back at work, it seemed too hard on him.

    He frowned and said, "Are you still going to work like this? Why not rest for another day?"

    "Gotta eat, you know! I''ll adjust tonight and will recover, no worries, Mr. Abel!"

    Chen Fei waved his hand, still young, he recovered quickly, and could bear it by gritting his teeth.

    If he skipped work without any reason, he could foresee that Big Brother Xiao would be quite unhappy.

    Even Chekhov, that Big Bear, couldn''t avoid getting hammered and yelping, so it was better not to offend the seemingly cold-but-warm-hearted maintenance chief, if possible.

    "Here, wait a second!"

    Chef Abel then filled arge pot with strong ck coffee for Chen Fei, adding a good amount of cocoa and honey.

    The taste...was a bit weird!

    But the effect was quite invigorating.

    Chen Fei did not refuse, he truly needed it.

    After leaving the cafeteria, with Xiao Jiu in tow, he wandered through thebyrinth of standard stacked containers, saw a steel structure shack, and knocked on the door.

    "Is that Little Chen?"

    An elderly voice came from inside, belonging to Old Master Barut, the Neanderthal.

    Then the door opened.

    No one hade for the shift changest night, and the phone was unreachable; the old man must have stayed up all night.

    With an apologetic tone, Chen Fei said, "I''m very sorry, Grandpa Barut, there was a bit of an ident yesterday."

    Had it not been for that group of unidentified armed men, he wouldn''t have missed helping Chef Abel and the overnight shift here at Barut''s.

    Barut smiled kindly and said, "No worries, it must have been some very troubling ident, right?"

    The fact that this young man remembered toe and apologize was somewhat unexpected for him, and he certainly wasn''t angry about it.

    "This...I''m very sorry!"

    Chen Fei sighed and shook his head.

    This darned bad luck; it''s a long story and hard to exin in few words.

    "Work time is almost here, you better go now!"

    Barut epted Chen Fei''s apology and sincerity (a generous breakfast and a bottle of dry white wine).

    The young man is not bad!

    -

 Chapter 59: Section 59 - Double Happiness Comes Knocking

    Leaving Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe, Chen Fei hurriedly scampered to the hangar and arrived at the mechanic crew right on time for work.

    Mechanic Chief Xiao Ming was holding a cup of steaming hot coffee, and upon seeing Chen Fei rushing into the hangar, panting and gasping for air, then stopping to take a long breath of relief, he spoke unhurriedly, "Little Chen, I was just about to approve a leave for you to rest for two days."

    Huh?!

    What''s going on?

    Chen Fei looked at the mechanic chief,pletely baffled.

    Boss, are you firing me?

    After ncing at the dumbfounded Chen Fei, Xiao Ming continued to speak leisurely, "I already know about yesterday''s incident."

    As time passed, the news that Chen Fei and his old neighbor from the Aircrew Base, Patan Elementary School teacher Shen Fei, had been kidnapped by unidentified armed personnel spread gradually within the base.

    However, the reaction of the Aircrew Base was extremely fast, and they immediately undertook a rescue operation, with the newly appointed Executive Manager Hanna Gagel personally leading the team.

    Wind-type supernatural power users were simply not something that a group of entirely ordinary armed personnel could withstand; Chen Fei returned to the base safe and sound in less than twelve hours.

    As Chen Fei''s direct supervisor, mechanic crew leader Xiao Ming getting rted information was not surprising at all.

    Actually, one could guess some clues from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron''s overnight collective sortie.

    "Truly, truly sorry!"

    Chen Fei didn''t know what he should say, so he started with an apology.

    Big Brother Xiao genuinely wanted to help him take a leave; this kind of intention absolutely needed to be appreciated.

    Holding the coffee cup, Xiao Ming said indifferently, "No need to apologize, it''s not your fault. When you are out and about, you have to learn to protect yourself."

    "Mechanic chief, I''ll remember that."

    Chen Fei nodded earnestly.

    Compared to Big Brother Xiao who could pin down and pummel Chekhov of the Big Bear Squadron to the ground, he indeed had a lot to learn.

    Especially facing Manager Hanna and Teacher Shen Fei, who would start unclothing at the slightest disagreement, boys had even more of a need to learn to protect themselves.

    Mechanic Chief Xiao Ming said, "Go back and rest for two days, I''ll approve your leave."

    However, Chen Fei unexpectedly insisted, "No, I want to work!"

    "Alright, starting from tomorrow, you''ll follow me and get your hands on those attack aircraft."

    Xiao Ming nced at the technical manuals marked G and the tabletputer that Chen Fei had tucked under his arm, draining the coffee in his hand in one gulp.

    He had almost finished reading the seven technical manuals of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" Light Turboprop Attack Aircraft; it was just the right time to put theory into practice.

    "Yes, mechanic chief!"

    Chen Fei was also very pleased; he finally wouldn''t have to cling to these thick technical manuals from dawn till dusk every day.

    Even if he had gotten used to dealing with dull charts and data, and could urately name everyponent, its specifications, and functions, without the chance to get hands-on experience, it was still armchair strategy. He wouldn''t dare say he truly understood thesebat aircraft.

    Big Brother Xiao''s new instructions aligned perfectly with Chen Fei''s wishes.

    The rookie''s ws were already itching with eagerness.

    -

    Thanks to the vigorous coffee generously provided by Chef Abel, Chen Fei was able to maintain his concentration and stay awake all day, flipping to thest page of the final technical manual.

    Busy dealing with the new challenges about to be posed by the new executive manager, the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had no time to continue training this neer.

    The work on waste dposition and regeneration had also temporarilye to a halt, so Chen Fei was d to have the chance to briefly review the previous six technical manuals again, making thorough preparations to take on the "Big Mouth Monster" tomorrow.

    Seeing as one who was able to attend university surely had unquestionable learning abilities, it wouldn''t be easy for most people to digest such voluminous seven technical manuals in this amount of time.

    In the afternoon, the female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, finally returned to the 911 Aircrew Base, bringing not only the remaining seized materials but also an unexpected survivor, a prisoner.

    Chen Fei did recognize this prisoner, the unfortunate soul who got kicked to "death" by Teacher Shen Fei; unexpectedly, he was still alive. However, even though he had escaped with his life, he was doomed to live the rest of his days as a living eunuch, a fate worse than death.

    Having such a live captive, it was likely that the origins of this armed group could soon be rified.

    It didn''t matter if they were stubborn, their own P-99 suggestion-acting drugs were avable, just perfect for giving them a taste of their own medicine, an act of lifting a rock only to drop it on their own feet.

    It wasn''t long after the female executive manager''s return that, following dinner and anotherrge cup of super-concentrated coffee, Chen Fei, who had been busy working for Chef Abel, received some good news.

    During his time held captive by the unidentified armed group, he had performedmendably, not only keeping thepany secrets but also initiating a counterattack. As a result, he was awarded a tax-free cash bonus of 100,000 Star Yuan and, starting from the current month, a Special Ability Allowance of 5,000 Star Yuan per month.

    Special Abilities could only be awakened by oneself and were impossible for others to learn, regardless of whether apany could utilize them or not. Enjoying a Special Skill subsidy was an industry norm and was defensible. To some extent, it could also help retain talent.

    The 5,000 Star Yuan subsidy wasn''t the highest but was also far from being the lowest; it was just slightly above average. If Chen Fei''s Special Ability proved to have substantial practical value and generated economic benefits for thepany, then the amount of his Ability Allowance would rise ordingly.

    The double blessingposed of two favorable developments made Chen Fei feel not overly excited but rather relieved.

    The reason was simple: the massive debt of 8.8 million had finally been slightly alleviated.

    The 100,000 Star Yuan prize money, containing a bit of the significance of "buying a horse with a golden coin," wouldn''t actually end up in his hands, yet it would automatically reduce his debt to 8.7 million Star Yuan. For Chen Fei, who wouldn''t let even a lifesaving straw slip by, this sum was clearly worth much more than any straw.

    Now that the sry from the mechanical repair team included the Ability Allowance, plus the flyer''s subsidy after leaving the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, not to mention ie from two part-time jobs ¡ª the kitchen work and night shift might not pay much, but every little helps ¡ª the various ies added up gave Chen Fei hope he might live to see the day his debts were repaid, lest he toil a lifetime in vain, ending up with nothing.

    Feeling somewhat relieved from the heavy burden on his heart, Chen Fei carried arge basket of drinks and dishes over to the steel-structured shack housing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower and knocked on the door.

    "Old Master, open the door!"

    Althoughst night''s appointment was missed unintentionally, he didn''t want to break his word again tonight. He decided toe an hour early and brought quite a few items with him.

    "Ho! You brought so much with you?"

    The Neanderthal old man, Grandpa Barut, saw Chen Fei''s hands full with a big basket and immediately grinned with delight, his eyes nearly squinting shut as he hurriedly let him in.

    That morning, Chen Fei had already brought a rich breakfast and a good bottle of alcohol. Now he had arrived with arge basket in the evening, which was very polite of him.

    "It''s nothing, today''s a happy day, just to have a drink with you, or perhaps for you to have a drink with me, Grandpa Barut."

    Chen Fei entered the shack and, familiar with the ce, found the table and began unloading items from his basket onto it.

    A bottle of Blue Star Erguotou he had wheedled from Big Bear Squadron Leader Chekhov, along with arge tin of caviar, freshly roasted pork knuckles and turkey from the kitchen, a dish of pagoda-shaped vegetables, and a bowl of fried peanuts, all perfectpanions for a drink.

    "Yes, it''s time to celebrate!"

    Grandpa Barut nodded. Having survived great peril, fortune indeed followed, deserving celebration; no wonder the young man was so happy.

    Sharing joy with others only multiplies the happiness, and he felt it was not in vain that he had high hopes for this youngpanion.

    Little Bird also joined in on the fun.

    "Tweet!"

    -

 Chapter 60 : Section 60 - Neanderthal Tribes Body Refining Secret Method

    "Get up!"

    Out of nowhere, the earth shook violently, and when Chen Fei opened his eyes, he found himself inexplicably standing beside the bed.

    ¡­

    What''s going on here?

    Wait, let me straighten out the details. Shouldn''t I be lying in bed right now?

    Yet, Chen Fei saw Old Man Barut''s face, covered with blood-red tattoos, and his shiny bald head.

    Waking up to see this was seriously freaky.

    "What, what''s going on?"

    Rookie was totally panicked.

    Barut said cheerfully, "Time to exercise the body!"

    "What?"

    Chen Fei was utterly confused.

    Exercise what?

    Could you please rify, sir?

    "Heh, nothing much, just increasing your chances of survival."

    The Neanderthal elder sized up Chen Fei as if he had found an interesting new toy, stretching a big hand to swipe across him a few times, clucking his tongue as if muttering to himself: "Mediocre physique, barely good enough to train."

    "I don''t need it, though!"

    Chen Fei immediately shook his head vehemently.

    I''m not somebat personnel. I just stay obediently in the base, either learning to repair nes, helping in the kitchen, or just guarding the Energy Tower. I never leave through the big gate, barely step through the second door, and sometimes help deal with various trash and waste from the base.

    With these duties, where could there possibly be any danger to my life?

    "Heh, it''s been almost a month, how many times have you died?"

    The elder from the Neanderthal tribeughed coldly.

    ...

    They say don''t hit a man in the face, but why does this old man specifically aim for a young person''s face?

    Chen Fei''s expression instantly turned extremely ugly, and he awkwardly said, "Twice!"

    Not 24 hours into the job and I ran into a Metallic Dragon going berserk¡ªthanks to a Dragon yer Missile, it got you, and almost got me too.

    Connecting to thework for Teacher Shen Fei''s school, I had just logged on when I was hijacked by armed personnel, then there was a standoff, and I got shot who knows how many times. If it weren''t for miraculously awakening a crappy Special Ability that lets me eat bullets, I would''ve been a goner again.

    Why the "again"¡­

    This really sucks!

    Barut looked at this unlucky kid and was speechless.

    With a wave of his hand, he said, "Come exercise with me, let me see you do a horse stance."

    Although he had aged and lost his past vigor, handling a young man with no strength was still easy for him.

    In no time, Chen Fei was manipted into the posture Old Master Barut wanted.

    "Good, just like that, keep it up, hold it for an hour."

    Barut examined Chen Fei, nodded, and then casually walked aside, picked up the breakfast he brought, and began enjoying it leisurely.

    Kid Chen Fei had a smile on his face but was cursing in his heart, standing honestly in the squat-like¡ªno, horse stance.

    A minute passed.

    Five minutes passed.

    I can''t do this anymore¡­

    Sweat beads the size of soybeans kept popping out on his forehead, his calves started trembling involuntarily, and his body slightly swayed.

    An hour in a horse stance?

    Absolutely inhumane!

    Why don''t you have the farm''s donkey try it?

    "Chirp chirp!"

    Little Jiu, who had finally filled his belly with berries from the bushes, knew to fly back andnded on the table, tilting its little head curiously as it looked at Chen Fei, who was motionless.

    On the table,st night''s leftovers were tidily cleaned up, and there was another portion of breakfast, left for Chen Fei.

    The little one shook its fluffy feathers vigorously, stretched its wings, and happily flew towards daddy.

    Oh no!

    Chen Fei grimaced in pain. It hadn''t even been ten minutes, yet, he was already struggling to hold on.

    For others, it might be thest straw that breaks the camel''s back, but for him, it was the final little bird that could crush a man.

    The moment Xiao Jiunded on Chen Fei''s head, he instantly understood what is meant by the unbearable lightness of being. His wobbling body could no longer maintain its bnce, and he plopped down on the ground, gasping for air.

    "It''s only been eleven minutes, no, get up!"

    The Old Neanderthal Elder, without any exnation, picked Chen Fei up from the ground like he was lifting a small chicken and kept pping his body continuously, making Chen Fei feelpletely numb.

    "Jiu Jiu!"

    Little Bird hopped around foolishly on top of Dad''s head, curiously watching as Barut swung his hands incessantly, again and again.

    One, two, three, four, let''s do it again.

    "Wait, wait, let me rest, just a moment!"

    Chen Fei couldn''t endure the fierce assault of pping, his body feeling numb all over.

    At this moment, he was only able to stand because of the continuous pping from Barut.

    "Stand straight and keep your back straight!"

    The Old Man of the Neanderthal tribe utterly ignored Chen Fei''s words and kept pping him with dedication. His arms, covered in blood veins, were moving so fast they almost produced an afterimage.

    Itsted for a whole half hour before Barut finally stopped, wiped the sweat off his brow, and, supporting his lower back, started shaking his head while gasping slightly, "I''m old, definitely old."

    Apparently, this brutal session of unyielding pping had greatly depleted his physical energy.

    "Grandpa Barut, did Chief Mechanic Xiao ask you to do this?"

    At this moment, however, Chen Fei felt surprisingly wonderful. His entire body tingled pleasantly, as if he had been soaking in a hot spring. All his muscles rxed, the previous exhaustion vanished, and instead, he felt great.

    The pping hadpletely invigorated his blood flow, naturally eliminating the muscle soreness and fatigue caused by standing in a horse stance for a long time.

    "Xiao Ming? Did you think I, this messy old man, was asked by him to train you? Hahahaha..."

    Barut shook his head, the glory of the Neanderthal tribe from the Third Era Civilization may have faded, but the pride remained, and he ended up pointing at Chen Fei andughing out loud.

    "No, not him?"

    Chen Fei''s mouth dropped open.

    He had been dragged out early in the morning to exercise, assuming it was because Big Brother Xiao had asked, since there had been a hint of this in Chief Mechanic Xiao''s words yesterday.

    He thought Chen Fei should learn to protect himself, generally to enhance hisbat abilities.

    If Chekhov Big Bear had encountered those armed men, it probably wouldn''t just involve a Disabling Bomb followed by a simplesh of a belt in a cave.

    With a proud lift of his chin, Old Man Barut dered, "Unless I willingly do so, no one can obtain the Body Refining Secret Method of the Neanderthal tribe from me!"

    Chen Fei was speechless and said, "Body Refining Secret Method?"

    He raised his hand and noticed the bruising that had been pped onto the back of his hand. He then looked at the blood-colored tattoos on the old man''s body and couldn''t help shivering as he said, "Maybe not?"

    "Making himself unrecognizable even to his parents would be less appealing than being dragged out for target practice for ten minutes."

    "Jiu!"

    Xiao Jiu pped its wings andnded on Chen Fei''s finger, curiously inspecting the bruise.

    Suddenly, it issued a series of strange, brief chirps. The small pointed beak opened slightly, a glow emanated as if it were holding a bright Light Pearl, moving toward the bruise on Chen Fei''s hand.

    A wave of warmth spread, and the bruise, nearly half the size of the back of the hand, visibly and quickly diminished and faded away, the skin returning to its normal color.

    "This, this, this¡­ Grandpa Barut, did you see that!"

    Chen Fei''s mouth opened wide enough to swallow an egg.

    Was this still the little bird he had hatched by hand?

    It was performing a miracle.

    "I saw, I saw, it''s a Pure Light Sparrow, it''s a Magical Beast, nothing strange about it,"

    Barut rolled his eyes, very dismissive of Chen Fei''s naive reaction from hisck of worldly experience. Having seen and known more, the old man naturally had much more wisdom than the young.

    Being dubbed a Magical Beast was precisely because it naturally had a Magical Elemental Affinity, allowing it to unleash magic.

    Pure Light Sparrow was not a powerful magic, but it was indeed one of the Magical Beasts, capable of using minor magic from the Light Elemental System with no surprise.

    "Is Pure Light Sparrow that powerful?"

    As Chen Fei had never really paid attention to Xiao Jiu''s Magical Beast status, he hadn''t specifically looked up information about Pure Light Sparrow.

    However, after witnessing the disappearance of the bruise on his hand, he felt he shouldn''t continue to ignore it.

    "Jiu!"

    Xiao Jiu hopped onto Chen Fei''s other hand, continuing to hold the glow close, as another bruise rapidly disappeared. Then it tried to burrow into Chen Fei''s cor, but he quickly caught and stopped it.

    Chen Fei yed with the cheerful and lively little bird, gleefully saying, "With this little guy, I can save quite a lot on Band-Aids."

    -

 Chapter 61 : Section 61 - Disassembly Tutorial

    "If the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu could evolve, it might help you a lot, but you need to take good care of it."

    The Neanderthal tribe elder, Old Master Barut, pursed his lips at Chen Fei''s yful remark, but unexpectedly nodded in agreement.

    The statement sounded like a joke, yet the direction of thought was correct.

    The Body Refining Secret Method of the Neanderthal tribe can inevitably cause some damage to the body, and having a Magical Beast proficient in Light-based Healing Arts nearby could really save on medical bills. As long as the nutrition was sufficient, there was no need to worry about potential hidden issues.

    For Chen Fei, who was unlucky with the elemental metal, it really seemed like a twist of fate.

    However, such an obedient and clever Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow was not something just anyone could possess, especially since it had Light-based Healing Arts, even the most rudimentary Light-based Spells could still attract covetous looks.

    Old Master Barut''s reminder was absolutely prudent¡ªif he couldn''t strengthen himself quickly to protect Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, he was bound to encounter such troubles sooner orter.

    "Let''s have breakfast first! Come over early tonight!"

    The Neanderthal tribe elder handed over the breakfast he had prepared for Chen Fei.

    Devouring his breakfast voraciously and washing up hastily, and with a little bit of time left, Chen Fei spent five-star yuan to get himself an old phone with a cracked screen through connections left by Pu Aihua. He re-registered his personal phone number, then dashed off, barely catching up on time with the start of the mechanics team''s workday.

    The old phone had been lost at Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, and he had no idea who might have picked it up. There was definitely no chance of getting it back, and since the Aircrew Base was almost isted from the outside world, and they had just had a heavy resupply, the transport nes that usually came monthly might now onlye once a quarter or even every six months.

    Finding a second-hand phone for emergencies was a lucky break, so he couldn''t be too choosy.

    Chen Fei was counting on using it to keep in touch with his family and assure them of his safety.

    Dying twice in a month was certainly not something he dared mention. If he was dead, at least there would be insurance andpensation to im, but darn it, being repeatedly rejected by King Yama, was it disdain or what?

    -

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming led Chen Fei to a light turboprop attack aircraft, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" in the work area and, ncing at the little bird hopping on his shoulder, said, "First thing, keep an eye on your bird!"

    For any kind of aircraft, the most feared scenario isn''t an engine failure or aerodynamic surface damage, but a bird strike!

    ording to Heinrich''s Law, mechanical malfunctions often have precursors, whereas bird strikes are always sudden and unexpected attacks that catch people off guard.

    Especially during takeoff andnding, man-made aircraft are most susceptible to collisions with birds.

    Even the weakest bird could cause the most fatal damage to an aircraft, which is why incidents of bird strikes are not umon in aviation safety events.

    "Understood!"

    Chen Fei immediately patted Xiao Jiu''s head and said, "No flying or running about, got it?"

    "Chirp!"

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, although a Magical Beast and unable to speak humannguage, could understand what Chen Fei said.

    In response, it yfully pecked at his earlobe and hopped around on his shoulder without any intention of flying away.

    "..."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao''s face was skeptical.

    Although he didn''t object to Chen Fei keeping a bird as a pet, he thought it should be kept in a cage, not just casually expecting it to behave with a simplemand.

    Seeing Xiao Ming''s doubt, Chen Fei said, "Don''t worry, Chief Mechanic, Xiao Jiu will be well behaved."

    Xiao Ming nodded, if you''re happy, that''s fine, and he returned to business.

    "Second thing, ready the tool cabs and workbenches."

    Under Xiao Ming''s direction, Chen Fei pushed over two mobile tool cabs and several workbenches for different purposes, cing the little bird on one of the tool cab shelves.

    The paint number "216" Big Mouth Monster: I''m freaking out!

    This was an old aircraft that had clocked over 1,000 hours of flight, and Chief Mechanic Xiao certainly wouldn''t let Chen Fei practice on a brand-new machine that had just arrived.

    "The third thing, check if the Big Mouth Monster''s self-diagnostic system and various sensors are working properly¡­ The fourth thing¡­ The fifth thing¡­"

    At first nce, Xiao Ming, the chief mechanic, looked like a rough and burly man, but he was especially meticulous when giving hands-on guidance to Chen Fei on disassembling the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft. He not only exined but also demonstrated by himself before letting Chen Fei try it hands-on, first putting it together, then taking it apart, always patient.

    Even without having read the seven ABCDEFG technical manuals before, Chen Fei could now clearly understand this light turboprop aircraft.

    Now, having thoroughly read all the technical manuals, just one practical exercise gave Chen Fei the confidence to operate independently. He was naturally very quick to learn, and although his movements were still a bit stiff, they had already subtly embodied the three essences of being stable, urate, and fierce.

    With a rapid assault, in less than half an hour, he managed to sessfully crack open the practice machine, number 216 Big Mouth Monster, as easily as maxing out levels in a newbie vige and straight out defeating a boss with ease.

    The "Big Mouth Monster," as a cheap attack aircraft that was extremely popr at various aircrew bases, had an active power assembly, the PT6A series turboprop engine, which was not as huge as many would imagine¡ªjust a tad bigger than a 40L bucket and weighing around 200 kilograms; small but mighty.

    In fact, this series of engines was not only used in various types of aircraft but also in agricultural machinery, ships, aviation auxiliary power (APU), and small generators as a power source, truly a brick-like general-purpose powerhouse, moved wherever needed, with applications only limited by imagination, never by necessity, produced inrge quantities to ensure abundance.

    The cost of industrial products is inversely proportional to the output; the greater the demand, therger the output, and thus, the lower the cost, naturally cheaper.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster," a mass-produced cheap product, was not cheap without a reason; the engine itself was not expensive. Including avionics and the body itself, the overallplexity of the hardware and software system was not much higher than a four-wheeled car.

    Starting with the turboprop engine, then moving on to disassemble various avionics modules along an orderly, dense circuit, besides the cockpit, the "Big Mouth Monster" used for the disassembly demonstration was practically gutted.

    By midday, Xiao Jixiu and Chen Fei had sessfully reduced the light turboprop attack aircraft to pieces, several workbenches piled high yet orderly, even making a list on the spot, nning to spend the same amount of time reassembling it the next day.

    This disassembly operation, apart from serving as a demonstration, also conveniently included maintenance and the recement of consumables, serving multiple purposes at once.

    In operations like this, the biggest fear was not failing to reassemble, nor was it not finding the parts; the real worry was having one or two extra pieces left over when done, which would be a real trouble.

    Xiao Ming, wiping his hands stained with multicolored oil on a rag, said, "That''s enough for today. Once you''re proficient in disassembly and assembly, I''ll teach you how to diagnose and repair faulty parts; repair work isn''t always just about swapping for new parts."

    Such hands-on and verbal field training was quite draining, fortunately, Chen Fei was with the maintenance crew in the morning and belonged to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron in the afternoon, giving him a break, and they would continue tomorrow.

    "Chief mechanic, you''ve worked hard."

    Practical experience runs shallow on paper, this matter must be experienced personally; having disassembled and reassembled it once, then listening to the chief mechanic''s detailed exnation, Chen Fei''s gains were substantial.

    Many things not covered in the seven technical manuals only became clear once you physically worked on them.

    "Your Little Bird is quite well-behaved."

    Seeing Xiao Jiu, who had stayed close to the mobile tool cab racks in the work area the whole time, Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming finally smiled.

    He had worried that this little bird''s curiosity might drive it to wriggle into every nook and cranny of the Big Mouth Monster.

    Aircraft in flight feared birds, and those on the ground were no different.

    "Xiao Jiu is one of a kind."

    There might be more than one Pure Light Sparrow in the world, but for Chen Fei personally, Xiao Jiu was unique and irreceable.

    During the lunch break, just as Chen Fei swallowed hisst bite of bread, a yellow light silently illuminated atop Hangar One.

    The pilots on routine standby in a corner of the hangar immediately reacted, and the voice of Chen Fei''s flying instructor, Irinei Rusios, rang out.

    "''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, assemble! Rookie,e on over, we''ve got a mission!"

    -

 Chapter 62: Section 62 - Retaliation

    Me?

    Chen Fei became nervous for no reason and hurriedly jogged over.

    He had just arrived when he saw that the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had already assembledpletely, gathering at more than twice the usual speed. Was this probably in response to a surprise that the new executive manager, Hanna Gagel, deliberately provoked?

    "''Rookie,''e here!"

    "Stand over here!"

    A few veteran pilots waved at Chen Fei and pulled him into formation, where he stood in two rows with everyone else.

    "What''s going on?"

    Chen Fei looked up at the hangar ceiling; the yellow light was still shing, but he heard no rm sound.

    Carlos Silva Lane, also known as "Fragrant Orchid" beside Chen Fei, whispered, "Don''t panic, it''s not likest time, this is a Level Two Combat Readiness."

    First-Level Combat Readiness requires an emergency takeoff to meet the enemy, Second-Level Combat Readiness involves taking the offensive, and Third-Level Combat Readiness means to stand by for instant takeoff.

    Not just Aircrew Base 911 but many aircrew bases adopt this standard n to cope with different situations.

    Just then, Big Bear, Chekhov, rushed over as well, and the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper," Ilinei Rusios, reported loudly, "Report to Major Chekhov, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Squadron is fully assembled, expected seventeen, present seventeen!"

    This time, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov had not got overcharged; he was just disheveled, with his beard scruffy and even sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes.

    He cleared his throat and said after standing in front of the two rows of pilots, "Mission target: Aircrew Base 897; Combat n:plete low-altitude surprise attack, retreat frombat within two minutes, do not engage with the enemy, refuel at Aircrew Base 909 on the return trip; Tactical objective: limited to theplete destruction of all ground targets; Weapon configuration: 500-kg cluster incendiary bombs, anti-radiation missiles, optional 250-kg high-explosive bombs, 250-kg cloud bombs, and 100-kg stink bombs, also fit auxiliary fuel tanks, anyone needing the restroom should hurry up, wear your diapers, we''re departing in ten minutes, everyone clear?"

    "Understood!" ¡Á16

    Chen Fei: "..."

    We agreed we were hunting monsters, yet suddenly we''re kicking in others'' turf, is this really okay?

    And we have to wear diapers???

    Deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper," Ilinei Rusios, asked bluntly, "Chekhov, are we preparing for a corporate war?"

    One aircrew base treating another as a target for attack, colleague against colleague, such things are truly unusual.

    The purpose of an aircrew base is to monitor and control the sparse popted areas for lurking mutants and out-of-control otherworldly creatures, but attacking each other is extremely rare, how deep must the grudge be to escte to a do-or-die situation.

    "No, it''s just a warning!"

    As the person directly responsible for thebat force of Aircrew Base 911, Chekhov was not only the first to know of thebat ns but also discovered their tactical objective.

    However, today''sbat order came from the headquarters of the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    "A warning? Did Base 897 provoke us?"

    Ilinei Rusios found it somewhat hard to understand.

    From the numbers alone, Aircrew Base 897 is not near Aircrew Base 911; they''re not even neighbors. There are at least one or two aircrew bases in between them, no wonder refueling at another base is required on the return trip, otherwise, they couldn''t fly back.

    "Indeed, they did provoke us, so we need to teach them a harsh lesson!"

    Knowing the reason, Chekhov nodded but didn''t borate.

    He turned to Chen Fei, who was still standing dazed in ce, and gestured, "Rookie, you''re flying with me, ne 211, don''t go to the wrong one!"

    "Rookie" Chen Fei is Big Bear''s new partner; although he couldn''t fly solo yet, as a fire control operator, he was more than adequate.

    A slight slip of the hand, and the giant dragon goes down.

    This kind of fire control operator is something everyone would want.

    "Got it!"

    Chen Fei was about to run outside the hangar.

    Chekhov, seeing that Chen Fei''s running direction wasn''t towards the restroom inside the hangar, quickly asked from behind, "Hey, where are you going!"

    "Looking for someone to take care of Xiao Jiu."

    Chen Fei didn''t even turn his head back.

    Chef Abel was resting, and the only person he could entrust was the Neanderthal elder, Barut, guarding the Energy Tower.

    The steel-structured shed housing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was almost like a small garden, just perfect for Little Bird to spend the whole day there. Besides, there were food and drink avable, so there was no need to worry.

    "Okay, that''s exactly what I was going to say!"

    Chekhov touched the back of his head.

    He was going to remind Chen Fei to keep an eye on his little bird and not let the tiny thing get too close to the idling turboprop aircraft.

    If the high-speed rotating propellers hit it, Biu... the bird would be gone instantly, and the propeller would need a w detection to determine if it could fly again. This oue was no different from mutual annihtion.

    Ten minutester, everyone was to board.

    Five A-39B "Big Mouth Monsters," light turboprop attack aircraft loaded with fuel and ground munitions, one after another slid onto the main runway, and with full eleration over three hundred meters, they lifted their noses and soared into the sky.

    Inside Hangar 1, the emptied-out Big Mouth Monster with the paint number "216": Wait for me¨i©n¨i...

    If it weren''t for the aircraft mechanic Xiao Ming using it to entertain Chen Fei, it too would be armed to the teeth and joining the sortie.

    Without the aircraft, the two pilots had to stay behind as the reserve team.

    If something happened to the five "Big Mouth Monsters" carrying out the strike, they would be thest air superiority of the Aircrew Base 911.

    Sitting in the rear seat of aircraft 211, Chen Fei leisurely programmed the mounted weapons and casually asked, "Major Chekhov, was that 897 Aircrew Base the mastermind behind the armed group from the day before yesterday?"

    Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''t just randomly attack another aircrew base. The suddenbat mission suggested there was mostly likely something fishy going on.

    "On the aircraft, you should call me ''Peanut Butter,'' got it, rookie?"

    The Big Bear in the front seat waved his mortar-sized fist and warned menacingly.

    The little rookie in the back seat immediately shivered.

    "Okay, ''Peanut Butter''!"

    "Rookie, you guessed right¡ªOne-Eye caught a live one. Those fools even brought a suggestive agent. They administered a shot, and he spilled everything, hahaha. Can these guys be any more professional? Are they serious?"

    The Big Bearughed so hard he swayed from side to side, the turboprop aircraft subtly shaking with him.

    Having someone sneak near the base to gather intelligence and then catching an employee, though destroy them all without getting anything substantial¡ªjust a waste of an armed group. But that doesn''t mean the Apocalypse Defense Group overseeing Aircrew Base 911 would just swallow this affront without a reaction.

    With weapons at hand, the intent to kill naturally arises.

    If they didn''t teach the other side a lesson, what, is Apocalypse Defense running a charity? Combat orders were sent directly to Aircrew Base 911, indifferent to life or death, ready to fight at any disagreement¡ªattack!

    Chen Fei timidly reminded, "''Peanut Butter,'' themunications channel is still open!"

    "Uh..."

    The overjoyed Chekhov suddenly felt as ufortable as if he had swallowed a fly, and irritably said, "Why didn''t you remind me earlier?"

    If it wasn''t to his liking, even beauty was a mere skull¡ªno concerns whatsoever.

    Chen Fei rolled his eyes.

    How to remind him?

    As soon as the aircraft took off, themunication channel was open. It wasn''t something you could just turn off¡ªhigh-level permissions are all on the ground control tower!

    "One-Eye is listening..."

    The icy voice of Executive Manager Hanna Gagar, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, resonated in everyone''s ears.

    You, the Big Bear, continue if you dare.

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron fellpletely silent. The squadron leader''s unabashed ther was heard by more than one person.

    Chekhov, the little puppy: ...

    He didn''t even realize that this woman was a Wind-type Ability User¡ªgetting smashed on the ground was the lightest punishment possible.

    While the previous executive manager Morris Morgan couldn''t do much about the Big Bear, this inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters wasn''t the kind to show mercy; she was a tough one who had stormed a cave alone to rescue people.

    "Manager Hanna, ''Peanut Butter'' didn''t mean it. He''s just loose-lipped,"

    the pilot of the wing aircraft, "Devil Pepper" Iline Rusios, hastily spoke up for the Big Bear.

    Chen Fei, behind the Big Bear, gleefully gestured a 666.

    You the boss, go ahead with your performance, don''t bow to evil powers. Though millions may stand against you, you proceed alone.

    Chen Fei never tired of seeing the Big Bear, Chekhov, getting a dressing down.

    -

 Chapter 63: Section 63 - Ultra-Low Altitude Breakthrough

    "Squadron Leader Chekhov, I expect an exnation when you return!"

    Manager Hanna''s tone was still as icy as ever, like a sharp de pressed against one''s throat, raising hairs in fright.

    Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s words had no effect whatsoever.

    Hanna Gagel was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and when they take someone, it''s usually conclusive; to not provoke others is already a blessing. Now, someone had bumped right into the muzzle of the gun. If she didn''t react, who would?

    All the efforts of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s pilots to brainstorm meticulously tailored responses from A to Z had been in vain, not giving the new executive manager any chance to find fault.

    But despite all precautions, they hadn''t anticipated their own squadron leader stepping forward to be a sacrificialmb.

    Now that was it, bbering nonsense. The carefully constructed defense lines were instantly breached, gravely offending the new manager.

    Thebatmunication channel came with a recording backup; there was no denying what was said.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' handle it yourself!"

    Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios expressed that she had done her utmost, to no avail.

    Caught red-handed, what else could she do?

    The Big Bear waspletely at a loss; should it really emte drawing a knife in despair, not betraying the Bear''s head?

    Woof...

    Themunication channel fell into a dead silence as if entering a state of radio silence, full of resounding silence; one could clearly sense the deep resentment of all the pilots.

    They really wished for an extra serving of bear meat, braised!

    Until the "Big Mouth Monster" squadron, maintaining ultra-low altitude flight, was 100 kilometers away from the Aircrew Base 897.

    Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Chekhov was still socially dead, unable to revive for a while; Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" picked up the ck.

    "This is ''Devil Pepper,'' number 212; all units pay attention, from now on lower altitude to 50 meters, maintain a speed of 160 kilometers, and check your ammunition again."

    Jet aircraft have the advantages of jet propulsion, and turboprop aircraft have the benefits of turboprop performance.

    The experienced drivers of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were adept at ultra-low altitude flying over the Xindu Kodai mountain area, as easy as eating and drinking. The stalling point of the "Big Mouth Monster" was very low, so there was no worry of flying too fast, failing to react in time, and identally colliding with a mountain.

    "Received, number 213!"

    "Received, number 214!"

    "Received, number 215!"

    "Received, number 211!"

    Chen Fei responded in ce of the Big Bear Chekhov.

    "Received, number 211!"

    Unexpectedly, Chekhov Big Bear also grunted, asserting his presence.

    "Prepare forbat!"

    The cold voice of the first-timebat supervisor, Executive Manager Hanna Gagel, reached all the pilots.

    Personal grievances set aside for now; first,plete thebat mission.

    Regardless of how unreliable he might have seemed, as the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron, Chekhov knew his priorities.

    The altitude of 50 meters from the ground barely differed from ground-skimming flight. Using the curvature of the Earth andplex terrain for cover, evading radar waves that couldn''t turn, five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft could approach the Aircrew Base 897 undetected and catch them unprepared.

    Aren''t you surprised?

    Aren''t you caught off guard?

    As a fellow defensework member and a military contractor, the Aircrew Base was not a frontline base of a sovereign nation, naturallycking aplete air defense system.

    Capabilities such as long-duration surveince and early warning aircraft, which were neither feasible nor affordable, were out of the question. At most, they could subscribe to a satellite remote sensing service, scanning the terrain of the defense area at intervals of 24 hours or other periods to prevent unexpected mutant or Magical Beast Group intrusions.

    They had never anticipated an attack from a fellow contractor.

    When the "Big Mouth Monsters" breached the visible range unexpectedly, Aircrew Base 897 btedly realized, with unwee guests already beneath their eyes.

    "214, 215, clear the radar and anti-aircraft firepower, 212, 213, follow me, Rookie, prepare the Rocket Nest, destroy the runway,"

    "Peanut Butter" Chekhov finally regained hisposure, his eyes began to brighten, and he loudlymanded with forceful rity, quickly reimingmand.

    The temporarymand''s co-pilot, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, had no objections to this. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, pleased to see Chekhov rapidly recovering his state.

    "214 confirmed the target, anti-radiation missileunched."

    "215 confirmed the target, air-to-ground missileunched!"

    Two A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft led the charge, elerating forward as missiles detached from under-wing hardpoints, whistling through the air with long trails, initiating attacks as per the pre-establishedbat n. The battle was officially underway.

    The HUD crosshair in the nose of the aircraft avoided the targets already locked by missiles, as the wing-mounted cannons roared.

    Bright red trajectories crossed the sky, charging forward, nearly simultaneously engulfing some ground facilities in mes and rising dust clouds, together with the missiles.

    The piercing anti-aircraft rms had just sounded when the massive antenna grid of the ground-based radar was instantly pulverized by the descending missiles.

    There was more than one radar at the Aircrew Base, but there was also more than one anti-radiation missile chasing down electronic signal sources, not sparing even themunication antennas.

    The 897 Aircrew Base hadn''t even realized what was happening when it was "blinded" instantaneously.

    The multibarrel cluster of anti-aircraft cannons lost radar guidance, hesitating in its rotation, and before it could adjust, it was swallowed by fierce mes, with several ground-to-air missilespletely destroying three to four clusters of dense anti-aircraft cannons.

    The 897 Aircrew Base was engulfed in mes in several locations.

    "Target''s anti-aircraft firepower has been eliminated!"

    Numbers 214 and 215 formed a two-aircraft formation, sweeping low and fast over the Aircrew Base, meeting no threatening resistance.

    As for the few anti-aircraft rifles firing, their small-caliber kic bullets didn''t even qualify to threaten the turboprop engines.

    Scattered on the ground, people ran in disarray, the anti-aircraft rms growing increasingly shrill.

    "Stick to the original n. First round of rocket fire to cover the main runway, don''t let them take off."

    With numbers 212 and 213 ascending, Chekhov pushed the throttle forward, 211 began its dive.

    The three-aircraft formation released dozens of Fire Serpents, engulfing the ground-runway in a torrential downpour,bat explosives with a 1.5 kg equivalent of the 57 mm caliber air-to-ground rockets created a carpet bombing effect, impacting even nearbybat aircraft into a series of bright, noticeable sparks.

    "The Big Mouth Monster''s" payload capacity was quite substantial, supporting several rounds of ground attacks.

    The mainbat forces and equipment at both 897 Aircrew Base and 911 Aircrew Base were identically outfitted with cheap mass-produced "Big Mouth Monsters," which disintegrated like paper mache in the explosions.

    Born from the same root, why the rush to kill?

    Some people at the 897 Aircrew Base ran around like headless flies, others cursed furiously at the sky in impotent rage.

    The runway destroyed, the fighter jets bombed, even the anti-aircraft forces were "violently cleared" in an instance, leaving the entire base vulnerable like a defenseless young girl, at the mercy of the five "Big Mouth Monsters" from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron.

    "Now begin clearing the ground buildings, glory to ''Genuine Fragrance''!"

    After emptying the Rocket Nest, Chekhov pulled on the control stick, and the turboprop aircraft climbed once again.

    Forbat aircraft, altitude is everything¡ªa fighting force, the chance of survival, a tactical attack. As long as there is altitude, there is still an opportunity.

    The purpose of thebat mission was not to kill personnel, but to demolish the adversary''s home base.

    "No need for the ''Dragon yer Missile''?"

    Chen Fei turned to look at the 897 Aircrew Base engulfed in mes below, with five "Big Mouth Monsters" split into two attack groups methodically demolishing it.

    If only a single KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile could lock on from a distance, one hit would have been enough to tten the entire base, neat and tidy saving trouble, ensuring no chicken or dog was spared, rather than thisborious session of bombing.

    Chekhov grumbled irritably, "''Dragon yer Missile'' doesn''t cost money? It''s even more expensive than the fighter jet you''re flying right now."

    The KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile was a precious asset at the 911 Aircrew Base, and just a few were priceless, no Aircrew Base could withstand such a wasteful disaster.

    The 911 Aircrew Base, in order to confront the frenzied Metallic Dragons, had depleted its entire reserve of "Dragon yer Missiles" and had yet to replenish its stock.

    This was partly because of its high cost and partly due to limited production capacity, they couldn''t get hold of them on short notice.

    -

 Chapter 64: Section 64 - Leveling

    ```

    w(?§¥?)w! Ouch!

    "Dragon yer Missiles" are even more expensive than "Big Mouth Monsters"?

    Chen Fei was immediately relieved, thankful that Apocalypse Defense Group didn''t bill him for the "Dragon yer Missile" he had identallyunched, otherwise it would have scared him to death. Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e-NovelBin

    The purchase cost of a single KDK-1 intake hypersonic smart missile was far more than the entirebat cost of the assault on Aircrew Base 897.

    If Aircrew Base 911 hadn''t sessfully killed the Metallic Dragons and harvested the wreckage, it would have definitely been a bloodbath loss.

    Using "Dragon yer Missiles" to bomb an aircrew base, wiping them outpletely, how deep must the hatred be?

    Apocalypse Defense Group''sbat mission for subsidiary Aircrew Base 911 was not meant to wipe them outpletely; it focused primarily on destroying equipment and buildings, and the ughter of the base''s living forces was not part of the n.

    "Last wave, throw everything down, and then say goodbye to them!"

    Without any air defenses left, Chekhov was unusually unrestrained flying the 211, leading another four "Big Mouth Monsters" in a line, dumping ammunition into the base.

    The tall control tower turned into ruins, the hangar roof was split in four or five ces, and cluster incendiary bombs were dropped in, igniting everything mmable. ck smoke billowed, fighter jets and various types of equipment were all consumed in mes.

    A 500-kilogram cluster incendiary bomb burned arge area, achievingplete coverage, followed by cloud bombs, creating st waves that swept everything away, a surefire method for dismantling everything.

    Programming a fighter jet''s weapons is, putting it simply, like setting up custom shortcuts, somewhat like a real-time strategy game, where you can quicklymand a part of yourbat units with shortcut keys. Whenever needed, just pressing F1, F2, F3... is enough tounch a pre-set bo attack" at first opportunity, beating the opponent until they''re down on the ground looking for their teeth.

    On the ground, the oil depot, zing up into the sky, finally reached a critical point and erupted like a volcano, rising steadily into a spectacr mushroom cloudparable in power to a 500-kilogram high-explosive aerial bomb.

    Sitting inside the "Big Mouth Monster" cockpit, even though they were four or five hundred meters away, they could still feel the aftermath of the st wave and scorching heat radiation. The scene was practically like hell, even cement began showing signs of melting.

    If it weren''t for the fast reaction of the people from Aircrew Base 897, who ran to underground air defense facilities immediately, the casualties would have been severe by now.

    From his aerial view, Chen Fei could imagine the devastating loss would make the opposing side bleed so much that it would be like vomiting three liters of blood.

    However, these weren''t the worst of it.

    The "Big Mouth Monsters" from Aircrew Base 911 brought carefully prepared gifts for their colleagues¡ªa hundred-kilogram ss of special stink bombs rained down like droplets and burst open inside Aircrew Base 897. There was no fire, no st wave, no need to care about the hit rate; just drop and it was done.

    The yellow-green smoke that exploded with muffled sounds quickly spread, bringing with it an overwhelming stench, suffocating enough to make the whole base smell worse than a cesspit.

    Once contaminated with these odors, even with various detergents and repeated washing, they still couldn''t bepletely cleaned in a short time.

    These synthetically manufactured chemical smells would linger in the area for at least a month before gradually dissipating.

    After all this nging and banging, for nearly a month toe, the people of 897 were definitely going to be smelling so bad they would doubt their existence.

    Not intending to simply ept a loss or escte the conflict, Apocalypse Defense Group just wanted to disgust the opponent with this act. They didn''t want to kill you, they just wanted to disgust you to death.

    "Heraxiao, missionplete, return flight."

    Circling thebat target from the air, Chekhov Big Bear was extremely satisfied seeing the ground''s houses copsed and the chaotic mess, with opponents so weak it felt thoroughly refreshing to beat them.

    Before this, Aircrew Base 897 could never have imagined that Aircrew Base 911 would react so fast, striking without a moment''s hesitation, seeking immediate revenge, definitely not the kind to wait till the next day.

    The fight from the surprise attack to the bombing finished in two and a half minutes, and the auxiliary fuel tank was not even empty yet.

    Who would have thought, perhaps in an effort to save on operational costs, Aircrew Base 897 only had nine antiaircraft heavy machine guns to maintain the most basic air defense, but not a single ground-based anti-air missile and not even a man-portable air-defense system was seen, allowing the five "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft to break through their defenses effortlessness at ultra-low altitude, without encountering any decent resistance, and the opposing pilots didn''t even get the chance to get near the aircraft.

    Once the first wave of attacks took out the radar and dense array of anti-air, the rest of the operation was to hold the enemy down and do whatever they wanted.

    Since time immemorial, bullets don''t have eyes, and any personnel casualties were on their own to handle, with absolutely no responsibility taken.

    ```

    If you have a problem with that, have the guts toe at me!

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, changing from the ultra-low altitude flight they had taken on their way here, swagged their way out. Finally, the cockpit no longer had to endure the endless proximity alerts and terrain warnings, which also loved to join in on the action frequently.

    "Sss... sons of bitches, 911, you have no sense of martial ethics..."

    The publicmunication channel suddenly received clear-text transmission, and it was evident that the folks at 897 were frantic, venting their helpless rage at the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron preparing to withdraw.

    Chen Fei shuddered in fear, hastily cutting off the publicmunication channel.

    The one leading the squad in climbing altitude to return, Chekhov Big Bear, frowned and turned his face in displeasure, saying, "Why cut it off? Put it back on, and switch to talk mode."

    Alright, going unencrypted!

    "...We from 897 Aircrew Base will submit aint to the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, you murderers... viting the Joint Defense Legition..."

    "Ahem!" Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov cleared his throat, preparing to speak.

    "Pfft, what a load of nonsense. With that attitude of yours,e at me, bro. You think you''ve got what it takes? Kiddo, I could crush your entire family with one finger..."

    All sorts of obnoxious words surged like the August tides in the Amazon basin, wave after wave of sheer negative energy.

    Emmm... something''s off with that ent, boss!

    Chen Fei, the kiddo, looked towards the cockpit''s front seat in shock. Where''s Big Bear?

    The ne was clearly in the sky, how could they have switched people?

    It wasn''t just him; in the cockpits of the "Big Mouth Monsters" to the left and right, all the pilots couldn''t help but sneak nces.

    (¦è¦è)(¦è¦è)(*=(¥¨)=)(¡û.¡û)(¡û.¡û)

    Before three minutes were up, the clear-text conversation from 897 Aircrew Base on the publicmunication channel was brutally dismissed. They couldn''t withstand the barrage of verbal abuseing at them, which was so intense that even through the radio signals, they could feel like they had been spat in the face.

    Believe it or not, Big Bear could spray a massive QR code right at you.

    Damn genius!

    It took quite some time for the folks at 911 Aircrew Base toe to their senses.

    "Oh my goodness, that was awesome, so freaking awesome!"

    Chekhov Big Bear wiggled his butt, as if feeling hot, opened up his Anti-G suit, reached into his crotch, and fished out a bottle of liquor.

    Without a care, he bit off the bottle cap, spat it out to one side, one hand on the control stick, the other with Blue Star Erguotou, tilting his head back and guzzling repeatedly.

    To drink in celebration today, my ambitions unfulfilled, I vow not to rest. There''s time in the days ahead to show my skills, willingly spill hot blood to write history.

    Just as wine heats up a warrior before battle, that''s as it goes.

    In the backseat, the Rookie was scared out of his wits. Some things never change. That guy up front had been waiting right here!

    A heavy smell of alcohol started to permeate the cockpit.

    The bottle of Erguotou, still half full, was propped toward the back seat, apanied by Chekhov''s slurred and crooked voice.

    "Rookie, have a drink!"

    -

 Chapter 65: Section 65 - Airborne Classroom

    Want a sip?

    What of?

    Chen Fei wished he could knock out this Big Bear with a bottle until he was half-paralyzed.

    Driving a car drunk gets your license suspended and a fine, andnds you in jail for half a year, but flying a ne drunk should get you dragged out and shot for half an hour.

    From a distance, as Squadron Leader Chekhov in cockpit 211 tilted his head back in a deep swig, his wingman, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, silently rubbed her forehead in disbelief.

    "This guy, at it again!"

    They say men never grow up; when will this bear grow up?

    Drinking heavily, boasting loudly, ying Big Daizi, can''t he find some more respectable hobbies?

    Like singing Peking opera or Kunqu opera, ying cricket or golf, writing novels, reciting poetry, ying basketball, or maybe ser, shedding some excess hormones on the green field would do as well!

    Chekhov Big Bear: Iline dear! Are you trying to kill me?!

    The bottle didn''t make it across, but Chekhov didn''t care, grabbing it back and downing it continuously until not a drop was left.

    After a long belch, savoring the taste with a few smacks of his lips, he felt utterly delighted!

    If only there were some snacks to apany the drink, a couple ofrge slices of salted fatback would have been perfect.

    Chen Fei had to switch to using an oxygen mask, ncing around the cockpit canopy to see if there was a way to crack it open and refresh the cabin air. He had no doubt that if he struck a match, the air, thick with the smell of alcohol, would ignite immediately.

    "Rookie, let me teach you a thing or two!"

    The drunken Big Bear started his bragging mode, yet the ne remained stable. Emmm... Perhaps it was a natural response, purely muscle memory; his brain, well, he might as well not have one.

    "''Devil Pepper,'' that littledy, is probably still teaching you how to y video games; with her terrible skills, huh!~ At best, she could teach you to drive a tractor. Wanting to soar into the sky and dogfight, no, huh!!~ Dog fight, huh!!!~ That''s far off."

    The entire squadron''smunication channel echoed with the Big Bear''s drunken thering.

    "..."

    In the cockpit of the wingman''s ne, the "littledy" Miss "Devil Pepper" clenched her teeth, her face as pale as iron.

    Calling her thisdy, thatdy, such tant male chauvinism, she was gearing up to throw a punch.

    Chen Fei: "..."

    He still wanted to return to the base alive, with his sry about to be issued this month; he did not want it to turn into condolence money.

    Chekhov continued his clueless ranting.

    "Remember always the Three Essentials of Air Combat, the first and most important, strike first or suffer the consequences, always make sure to fire the first shot."

    "Second, use all your might right from the start, don''t hold back,unch all your missiles, holding back is suicide."

    Enjoy new stories from m-v l''e-NovelBin

    "Third, after attacking, bolt, don''t hesitate, the so-called best hunters often appear as prey. That''s all nonsense to deceive the naive. Times have changed, if a missile locks on you, you''re done for!"

    "Besides the Three Essentials of Air Combat, remember, the most dangerous things in the skies aren''t Giants Dragons, Fighter Jets, Bombers, not even Airships, but Early Warning Aircraft. Those things are pure hedgehogs, once radars detect an Early Warning Aircraft and there aren''t enough allies nearby, forget it, just run."

    Chen Fei blinked, taking notes in his notebook, yet still unable toprehend.

    Early Warning Aircraft? Hedgehogs?

    He could believe if you said Early Warning Aircraft were covered in radar antennas, resembling hedgehogs,

    But saying they are prickly like missiles, what kind of nonsense is that!

    "''Peanut Butter'' was right, I was intending to tell you when you boarded the aircraft, but now since he has already mentioned it, just jot it down! Don''t try to provoke an Early Warning Aircraft unless you''ve achieved numerical superiority andpletely overwhelmed it, or you won''t stand a chance."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s voice came through the wireless into Chen Fei''s ears.

    Early Warning Aircraft were inherently designed for an advantage, truly an outstanding external add-on in airbat. The difference between having an Early Warning Aircraft in an airbat group and not having one is significant; they are rightly called force multipliers in aerialbat, and the name is not at all for show.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Isn''t an Early Warning Aircraft just an airborne radar?"

    Even if you''ve never eaten pork, you''ve probably seen pigs run. As the name suggests, Early Warning Aircraft provide aerial alerts, spot targets in advance, control the overall operation, and respond instantaneously.

    "It''s not just an airborne radar, but also argemand and remote control tform."

    On the way back to the Aircrew Base, Irinei Rusios took the opportunity to give this real rookie a supplemental lesson, lest he remain ignorant and be aughingstock.

    She continued, "Imagine encountering an enemy Early Warning Aircraft. Their high-powered radar detects you early, and nearby fighter jetsunch missiles. Under the remote control of the Early Warning Aircraft, they fly at you from all directions. Do you think you could escape?"

    Chen Fei said without hesitation, "I couldn''t!"

    "There''s another scenario¡ªjust you versus an Early Warning Aircraft. The enemy only needs to fire a directed high-power electromaic pulse at you or use other electronic warfare techniques, and your fighter jet would fail to lock onto the target, or even lose control outright. If you''re lucky, you might manage a glidingnding.

    If you''re not, like a jet, it would simply fall, and you''d have to eject to save your life immediately."

    Irinei Rusios taught earnestly.

    The return trip would take over three hours, idle as they were, it turned into a live instructional session. The whole afternoon was devoted to this, as it was originally part of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

    In the back seat of Aircraft 211, Chen Fei noted rapidly in his notebook, not daring to miss a single word.

    All these were important points. Even though he might not confront an Early Warning Aircraft in the future, these issues touched upon his own life and safety. It was better to take notes first as a precaution.

    Chen Fei earnestly asked, "So, apart from running away, is there any way to counter an Early Warning Aircraft?"

    A tipsy Chekhov answered first, "Only with an EMP (Electromaic Pulse weapon) and an Early Warning Aircraft. Fight fire with fire, in electronic warfare. Otherwise, you''d just pray for their electronic systems to malfunction, hahahaha!"

    Being drunk didn''t matter; he was still professional. Woohoo!~~~

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios added, "Though that''s the theory, in practice, an Early Warning Aircraft never flies alone. It''s not fighting solo; it can mobilize not only nearby air forces but even ground tactical units through sheer numbers."

    "What about anti-radiation missiles then?"

    Chen Fei recalled that not long ago, aircraft numbers 214 and 215 from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had first swept the Ground-based Radar and dense anti-aircraft artillery at Aircrew Base 897 with anti-radiation missiles¡ªa clean and straight knockout, stunning the enemypletely unprotected.

    The prized possession of an Early Warning Aircraft is its radar; knocking out its antenna would practically cripple it!

    Chekhov pursed his lips and muttered, "Anti-radiation missiles are air-to-ground missiles, how could that even work?"

    Such an unconventional tactic.

    "It''s untested, but with certain modifications, anti-radiation missiles might be feasible."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios pondered for a moment and admitted the possibility. However, the use of anti-radiation missileses with significant limitations and they''re not as convenient as air-to-air missiles in many situations.

    It would be better to just fire an EMP, leading to mutual annihtion of electronic systems, or have both sides'' Early Warning Aircraft pressing each other, vying in terms of sheer power."

    As of now, the number of downed Early Warning Aircraft stands at zero, whereas they have managed to shoot down quite a few superior fighter jets.

    Even in one-on-one or one-versus-many scenarios, this toothless tiger shouldn''t be underestimated.

    "''Devil Pepper'', if¡­"

    Chen Fei, holding his notebook, continued to ask questions.

    ...

    Themunication channel of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron turned into a ssroom for Chen Fei and Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, a lively question and answer session that used the time effectively and without dy.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov would also asionally chime in, especially on technical aspects, making fewer nonsensicalments despite his intoxication.

    The others listened throughout the journey, finding it interesting and far from boring.

    Three and a half hourster, the auxiliary fuel tanks of the five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft were already empty, with just a small fraction of fuel left in the onboard tanks. They lowered theirnding gears andnded one after another.

    Before they had even stabilized, the pilots jumped out of the cockpits, ran to the grass beside the runway, loosening their clothes, and a series of muddy or clear streams of urine shot far into the distance.

    -

 Chapter 66: Section 66 - Chekhovs Young Women

    "My God, I was almost suffocated to death."

    With a dder full of urine, Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Major Chekhov wore a look of relief.

    By this time, the wine had worn off, and thending of "Big Mouth Monster" No.211 was smooth and wless.

    The grass became increasingly lush.

    Look at all the runways at the airports, most are surrounded with lush green grass, all watered day after day.

    The ground crew at Aircrew Base 909 were not surprised by this, considering the distance from the runway to the restrooms, where one has to run a good two kilometers, otherwise one would end up wetting their pants halfway.

    As one of the two female pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, Vice Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios looked disdainfully over her shoulder at a group of older men and turned away.

    She didn''t need to engage in such indecent acts, as adult diapers had already been prepared.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light propeller-driven attack aircraft has a maximum endurance time of 15 hours, and adult diapers are essential, just in case one needs to go on a long sortie like today, with no toilets avable midway.

    Children need diapers due to physiological needs, adults need diapers due to survival needs.

    As the sun set, the five "Big Mouth Monster" aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron finally returned to Aircrew Base 911, having sessfullypleted theirbat mission.

    Be it fighting monsters or people, essentially, there is not much difference.

    However, a retaliatory strike on a fellow Aircrew Base 897 wouldn''t earn a bonus from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the overhead expenditures at Aircrew Base 911 were borne by its parent organization, Apocalypse Defense Group, resolving contractual disputes between the two military contractors on their own as well.

    In the event of failed negotiations, they might just break off rtionspletely, going soldier to soldier, general to general, dering a state of "enterprise warfare" and just starting an outright battle, with everyone resorting to force, the bigger and harder-fisted being the winner, who invites others to join alliances for more bouts, until one side admits defeat.

    The expenses of "enterprise warfare" are enormous, and military contractors either weaker in strength orcking in funds simply can''t afford to engage, as defeat could result in bankruptcy.

    Sovereign Level major yers don''t worry about these minor skirmishes among privatepanies escting or expanding disputes because, after all, it''s just business. Making money, not bickering, maxes out at a fight or two in uninhabited areas. Once they see there isn''t much to gain, they naturally cease fighting and make peace.

    "Finally back, let''s drink, let us all drink! Ooh, ooh, hoorah!"

    Chekhov jumped out of the cockpit, waving his arms, engaged in a bear dance.

    Bang!~

    The world suddenly spun around him without warning.

    Rushing over with a big m, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sneered, "What''s the matter with you, Chekhov littledy?"

    Retribution isn''t sought at the moment, but once the timees, it''s immediate.

    "Dear, what''s the matter with you?"

    Lying on the ground, Chekhov broke into a sly grin.

    This little woman held grudges, was really fuming at the moment, and it was better not to provoke her further, otherwise he was in for some trouble.

    "Hmph!~"

    She spat in contempt.

    The temper of the Vice Squadron Leader was not to be taken lightly, never one to be easily bullied.

    "Go drink your dog piss!"

    Drops of moisture fell on Chekhov''s face, and he promptly shut his trash-mouth, watching with a mncholic look as the "little woman" walked away.

    Having roamed Jianghu for over forty years, my faith is unyielding!

    Chen Fei silently pulled out his screen-scratched second-hand old cell phone, clicked a picture, saving it as a memento.

    This was his favorite kind of scene.

    "Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, your mission bonus this time, and this month''s bonus, are all deducted, to be evenly distributed among everyone in the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron!"

    Just at that moment, a cold voice came through.

    The new female executive manager, Hanna Gagar, referred to by Big Bear as "One-Eye Old Lady," had unknowingly arrived at the tarmac and announced a new order.

    The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron looked at each other in bewilderment.

    The next second, everyone cheered.

    Only Chekhov had a sullen face, cursing under his breath, having lost big time.

    The monthly bonus of the squadron leader was already more substantial than that of the team members, and with the bonus for thisbat mission, it was almost like working for free for an entire month.

    The long-nned cluster strategy of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron instantly fell apart, vanishing like smoke and clouds, likely powerless to stand against the new executive manager''s decisive actions.

    One really can''t me others for being too realistic, eyes widening at the sight of money. If anyone is to me, it can only be Squadron Leader Chekhov for not being able to keep his big mouth shut, incessantly calling out "Old Lady," offending both the executive manager and his deputy.

    Now saddled with a big backpack and thrown in a big diaper, and with his whole month''s bonus deducted, he couldn''t me anyone else.

    "Tomorrow headquarters will send a psychological counselor, and everyone is required to undergo a psychological evaluation. Also, remember, our 911 Aircrew Base doesn''t have that "big mouth."

    Manager Hanna dropped this statement, twisted her ample waist, and with a swivel, she turned and left.

    Chen Fei and all the other pilots turned to look at the still-grounded Big Bear Squadron Leader. Who else could have that "big mouth" if not him!

    "It wasn''t me, I didn''t do it, don''t talk nonsense!"

    Chekhov rolled his eyes, immediately firing back a triple denial.

    Believe it or not, if he dares to ther on again, Manager Hanna could indeed make this Big Bear disappear for good!

    "Understood, understood, ''Peanut Butter,'' you''re really something!"

    "Following the squadron leader brings rewards!"

    "Thank the squadron leader for the bounty!"

    The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron all gave a thumbs up to the clumsily rising Big Bear from the ground.

    What a man!

    The additional bonus for the month indeed owed something to Major Chekhov''s contributions.

    Hooraahh!~

    The heavily losing 897 Aircrew Base wasining to their influential backer, another military contractor, which immediately negotiated with the Apocalypse Defense Group backing the 911 Aircrew Base.

    The Aircrew Base was bombed, stunk up, lost over a dozen personnel, and considering the losses in equipment and supplies, whether the base could be rebuilt was still debatable. However, the crass provocations over themunication channels were intolerable.

    That military contractor, which suffered heavy losses and was destined to swallow its own broken teeth and blood, could not seek justice for the retaliatory attack it endured at 897 Aircrew Base and could only make trouble for 911 Aircrew Base to regain some face.

    The new female executive manager, Hanna Gagar, was no easy target. She tly denied any responsibility, disiming knowledge of the person, shifting the me to a passing "Tricycle." Indeed, anyone could interfere over the publicmunication channels.

    Even if the other side contested this harshly, even after questioning everyone, this ent would likely never be found.

    Dingdong!

    Ding! You have a new message. Please check!

    ¡­

    The text message alert on the phone kept sounding.

    Chen Fei pulled out his phone and saw that the long-awaited sry had been credited, the details of which made him grin from ear to ear.

    The bonus promised by Manager Hanna was credited on the spot, truly genuine!

    -

 Chapter 67: Section 67 - You can call me Little Li, Little Bai

    "The bonus has arrived!"

    "I made a killing this month!"

    "Squadron Leader, let''s drink,e and have a drink with us!"

    More than one flyer gleefully broke into the Bear Dance on the tarmac; it was a chaotic dance party.

    Ding-dong!

    "[Apocalypse Defense] Pay slip for December for employee (Chen Fei) of Aircrew Base 911: Base Sry +45,000 Star Yuan, Position Bonus +5,000 Star Yuan, Special Skill Allowance +5,000 Star Yuan, Part-time Job 1 Subsidy +3,000 Star Yuan, Part-time Job 2 Subsidy +2,800 Star Yuan, Attendance +1,000 Star Yuan, Food Allowance +600 Star Yuan, Other Bonuses +75,000 Star Yuan, Personal Contribution to Pension Insurance -1,500 Star Yuan, Personal Contribution to Medical Insurance -500 Star Yuan, Reproduction Insurance -200 Star Yuan, Disability Insurance -400 Star Yuan, ident Insurance -100 Star Yuan, Actual Earnings +134,700 Star Yuan, Deductions -127,965 Star Yuan, Final Ie +6,735 Star Yuan, Current ount Bnce 7,611 Star Yuan."

    Chen Fei''s emotions went on a rollercoaster ride as he looked over the sry details in the text message, from surprise to excitement to pride to confusion to bewilderment to dejection to thinking life isn''t worth it.

    In his first month on the job, he couldn''t believe he had earned a sry of over 130,000 Star Yuan. With such an ie level, clearing the debt with the creditpany seemed right around the corner; it wouldn''t take six or seven years to pay it off in full, with interest.

    But Chen Fei knew better than to get his hopes up.

    Let''s not mention that arge portion of this 130,000+ ie of the month came from Chekhov Big Bear''s self-destruction.

    Such windfalls are rare and idental.

    One couldn''t expect the Big Bear Squadron Leader to self-destruct again next month to contribute to the whole squadron and benefit all the members; that would be a dream!

    Life being so tough, Chen Fei eventually sighed and manually made another payment.

    The bnce left in his work card ount was a neat 611 Star Yuan, relying on this mere change for meals, inte charges, and personal living supplies, and he still needed to save up to rece his old phone¡ª who knows how much longer it wouldst.

    The current total personal debt was 8,565,035 Star Yuan, which had already offset the after-tax bonus of 100,000 Star Yuan.

    Among them, 6,765,035 Star Yuan were redited, 4,765,035 Star Yuan to the creditpany, and 2,000,000 Star Yuan to the Apocalypse Defense Group, plus the 1,800,000 Star Yuan verbal ount owed to Big Bear Squadron Leader Chekhov, which had ample flexibility.

    He could pay back with cash or with guns; if he were lucky enough to find a brand-new factory AK-47 one day, the debt would naturally cancel itself out.

    The debt owed to the creditpany was subject to interest; although the annual interest was substantial, it wasn''t a frighteningly high usury. Otherwise, no matter how high Chen Fei''s sry, he would inevitably be trapped to death.

    The debts to Apocalypse Defense Group and Chekhov Big Bear had no interest, and he could dy repaying those, focusing on paying off the creditpany first, which gave him some breathing room. Otherwise, these huge debts could have suffocated him.

    -

    Early in the morning, a small business jetnded on the main runway of Aircrew Base 911.

    The psychological counselor, verbally notified by executive manager Hanna Gagel, arrived as promised.

    The medical team''srge consultation room was upied by one male and two females who arrived in the business jet. They set up a couch, drew the curtains, and then distributed number cards to all employees of the base, beginning their checks in order.

    The pilots from the Combat Flight Squadron Genuine Fragrance, who originally thought the psychological survey was only meant for them, were surprised to find that it involved everyone on the base, including janitorial staff.

    Everyone who received a number card was baffled; what exactly was Manager Hanna cooking up in her gourd?

    A total of 247 number cards were issued, and Chen Fei received number 74. Benefiting from the Glow of the Combat Flight Squadron Genuine Fragrance, his was rtively upfront.

    A full psychological survey of all staff could only cover 40 people a day. To finish everyone, it would take at least a week.

    It was finally his turn at three o''clock in the afternoon the next day.

    Holding number 73 was Susanna Emma, code-named "Mint", the copilot of Z-9 armed helicopter Scavenger Squad''s Unit 2. She walked into the consultation room with a look of curiosity, but came out ten minutester sobbing, shooting a nce at Chen Fei waiting in line before dashing away.

    This left Chen Fei, clutching his little number 74 slip, utterly confused and at a loss.

    What could be wrong with this young girl, a year or two younger than himself?

    Could it be that the male psychological counselor inside had done something outrageous, something he shouldn''t have done, to cause her to burst into tears as she left?

    Your next read is at m v|l-e-NovelBin

    Yet the expression on each person who came out of the consultation room was off, and it wasn''t only Susanna Emma who reacted like this.

    If they were bullied, that psychological counselor wouldn''t live to see tomorrow''s sun.

    "Number 74, you maye in now."

    A few minutester, a voice from inside finally called out.

    Chen Fei hesitantly walked in, rounded the snow-white curtains, and saw a young man who didn''t seem to be much older than himself, sitting on a high barstool. He gestured towards the sofa opposite him.

    "Hello, my name is Li Bai; you can call me Little Li, Little Bai, or Doctor Li¡ªwhatever you like. Please sit on the couch, no rush, start with a deep breath to rx."

    "Uh... Okay!"

    Although Chen Fei''s insides were tumultuous, he still made his way to the couch and sat down.

    A mild fragrance permeated the room, and with a slight sniff, his unease settled instantly. He saw a slender pale yellow incense stick burning in the corner, trails of green smoke wafting up, the source of the enigmatic scent.

    "Please have some tea!"

    A voluptuousdy in a green dress brought over a small cup of pale green drink and, after setting the cup down, walked behind the psychological counselor to massage his shoulders.

    Another girl, resembling jade of a well-kept household, was sitting behind a table with aptop in front of her, connected to a camera that was aimed directly at Chen Fei sitting on the sofa.

    Following Chen Fei''s gaze, the young psychological counselor said with a smile, "This is Qiongya Agarwood, 500 Star Yuan per gram¡ªthe scent is calming and refreshing."

    Retracting his gaze and looking at the paper cup beside Chen Fei''s hand, he continued, "Calming Tea, best to drink it all in one gulp while still hot; it''s good for you."

    Chen Fei picked up the cup with skepticism and took a sip, savoring the taste.

    A faint sweetness, not bitter, somewhat invigorating¡ªdecent!

    Then, he drank it down in one gulp.

    Setting down the cup, he looked again at the psychological counselor Li Bai and asked, "Can we start now?"

    "Of course, please look at my hand!"

    Li Bai raised his right hand and waved it in front of Chen Fei''s eyes, then snapped his fingers with a loud click.

    Chen Fei: "..."

    Li Bai nodded and said, "Done!"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but ask, "Done what?"

    This self-proimed Doctor Li was so odd, talking to himself, unsure what he was up to.

    Psychological Counselor Li Bai: "..."

    Shouldn''t the other party be hypnotized by now? But this reaction was really off!

    "Uh! Could you please take a deep breath for a minute and then concentrate, looking carefully..."

    But Li Bai actually used "you" to address Chen Fei, thought for a moment, then pulled out a Green Jade Gourd strung on a thin red cord and began to gently sway it back and forth in front of him, like a pendulum, left and right, left and right, left and right...

    "You''ve worked hard all day, tired and sleepy, wanting to sleep well. This ce isfortable, warm, a good ce to sleep, please slowly close your eyes..."

    His voice became softer and softer.

    A minuteter, the swaying Green Jade Gourd finally stopped.

    "Finally done!"

    The young psychological counselor Li Bai stroked his forehead, pretending to flick away the nonexistent sweat.

    "Done what?"

    Chen Fei opened his eyes, bewildered.

    "Oh my!~"

    Psychological Counselor Li Bai staggered back several steps and sat down on a stool, then looked Chen Fei up and down with eyes as if he were seeing a monster.

    "What''s wrong?"

    Chen Fei looked at himself, not seeing anything unusual.

    But the other''s expression was very strange indeed.

    Li Bai probed, asking, "May I ask... are you human?"

    A regr person would have sumbed to the sound of his snap, right on the spot.

    Even those with strong willpower could not resist the swinging Green Jade Gourd.

    "Of course... do you want to see my ID?"

    Whether one is human should be clear from an ID, Chen Fei pretended to reach for his ID to prove himself, but the young psychological counselor Li Bai quickly waved his hand and said, "No need! I believe you!"

    "That, Doctor Li Bai, you mean to say...?"

    Chen Fei still couldn''t figure out what the other was getting at.

    "What I mean is, hypnotism seems to have no effect on you."

    Upon saying this, the young psychological counselor seemed relieved.

    At this juncture, there was no need for obscurity and pretense; life''s not worth the charade.

    -

 Chapter 68: Section 68 - Excellent Hypnotism Technique

    Chen Fei finally figured out what the other party was really up to, he pointed at himself and ventured, "You want to hypnotize me?"

    The young psychological counselor said somewhat dejectedly, "That''s right! Only when you''re in a hypnotic state can we get the most truthful answers."

    Adults have profound thoughts and cluttered minds, inevitably guarded and cautious. Only through hypnotism can one strip away various distractions and falsehoods to ultimately reach the core of the heart.

    In the Blue Star industry, a top-notch master of hypnotism known as "Big Devil," Li Bai was quite confident in his techniques. If one snap of the fingers couldn''t hypnotize someone, then he''d use two snaps.

    But the normally infallible hypnotism unexpectedly failed on this person, causing Li Bai astonishment and a bit of a hit to his confidence.

    Unless the other person was a rock, a piece of wood, or steel, there should be some effect. And yet, even when he resorted to the trump card of using a hypnotic medium, there was still no reaction, not even a tiny bit.

    This was utterly unscientific!

    Don''t ask if the hypnotism that was akin to sorcery was scientific, if you ask, it''s science!

    "Shall we try again?"

    Chen Fei didn''t mind.

    He had never been hypnotized before and was somewhat curious about the experience.

    "Then let''s try it again!"

    The psychological counselor Li Bai became serious with a stern expression.

    He gestured to thedy in green behind him.

    "You,e!"

    His hypnotism was practiced and honed over time, primarily based on inducement.

    Thedy in green had an innate talent, needed no suggestions or hints, and took a more direct and brutal approach to breaking through defenses.

    "Look into my eyes!"

    Thedy in green came before Chen Fei, leaning in to exhale a fragrance as sweet as orchids, her voice enchanting.

    "..."

    Chen Fei felt as if her pupils changed from ck to gold, then became filled with cracks, each flickering with golden light.

    Thedy in green spoke softly, "What do you see?"

    Her unusual eye color could pull one''s mind into an endless illusion, sinking into a world of strange and unpredictable phenomena.

    "Big... Na Zi!"

    Chen Fei really didn''t want to lie, because those two patches of white were nearly bumping against his face, definitely the type that Big Bear Chekhov would like.

    No sooner had he spoken than an inexplicable chill ran through him, his body hair stood on end, and his muscles involuntarily tensed up.

    He didn''t know what had happened, but something felt off. He seemed to need to leave immediately or prepare for the worst, preferably with a gun in hand.

    "Stop!"

    The psychological counselor quickly pulled back the would-be furiousdy in green, then shot Chen Fei an irritated nce for bbing such embarrassingly honest nonsense.

    The other girl taking notes covered her mouth, giggling, her focus clearly drifting.

    Psychological counselor Li Bai waved his hand in front of Chen Fei and asked, "Chen Fei, you''re not hypnotized, right?"

    "Uh! I don''t know!"

    Chen Fei had never been hypnotized before and naturally didn''t know what it felt like.

    Maybe he was hypnotized, maybe not; he simply couldn''t tell.

    "You probably weren''t, what did you see?"

    Psychological counselor Li Bai observed Chen Fei''s microexpressions and bodynguage carefully.

    His usually reliable hypnotism was of no use, but some little tricks were still applicable.

    "Eyes, turned to gold, then cracked, and then¡­," Chen Fei hesitated, then honestly said, "Na Zi!"

    The high beams were too blinding to not notice. Fellow drivers, please take note, do not use high beams when vehicles are approaching each other.

    Thedy in green got angry again, but the other girl promptly held her back. Resigned, thedy in green made a throat-slitting gesture toward Chen Fei, scaring the youngster into trembling. That dreadful feeling returned.

    They had promised a trip to kindergarten, yet the destination turned out to be a direct high-speed drive to the crematorium.

    "Alright, you can go now!"

    Psychological Counselor Li Bai shook his head, even his own hypnotism and the green-dresseddy''s Innate Talent had no effect, so if it were someone else, they probably wouldn''t get any results either.

    In some ways, this was actually a good thing.

    If anyone tried to use mind-rted methods on this young man, they were destined toe back empty-handed, incapable of extracting any valuable information. It would be more effective to use brutal and simplistic methods like severe torture or threatening associated individuals, which required no technical skill.

    But to use such violent acts on a citizen from the strongest Sovereign nation in the world was akin to an old immortal eating arsenic¡ªtired of living, so to speak.

    The repercussions of such actions were too severe, even a regr Sovereign nation couldn''t afford such a cost.

    Chen Fei walked out in a cloud of confusion.

    The young psychological counselor worried if he stayed any longer, he might start a fight right there with thedy in green.

    LSP Chekhov, Recruit #75, saw Chen Feie out with a bewildered expression and asked curiously, "Hey! Rookie, what did they ask you?"

    Chen Fei sized up Big Bear and suddenly said, "They didn''t ask anything. Squadron leader, how high is your personal insurance coverage?"

    "The maximum amount is 50 million Star Yuan, what''s wrong?"

    This time it was Chekhov who was bewildered.

    "Oh! That''ll be enough!"

    Chen Fei nodded his head, then turned on his heel and walked away.

    With thepensation amount of 50 million Star Yuan, no worries!

    "???"

    Chekhov Big Bear was even more puzzled.

    He scratched the back of his head, watching the retreating figure of Chen Fei, what did that mean?

    ...

    Five minutester, the squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron at Aircrew Base 911, Major Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, stripped while sprinting, and in the end, wearing only his tiny briefs, ran onto the main runway, wiggling his waist and shaking his butt, performing his signature Bear Dance, all while loudly chanting to the rhythm.

    "Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum! Dum Dum..."

    It had to be "Swan Lake", no, rather, it should be "Bear Lake"!

    Everyone at the Aircrew Base was stunned.

    "As expected!"

    Chen Fei, who was also surprised by themotion, could hardly bear to watch that agile figure with a tiger''s back and bear''s waist on the main runway.

    A proper public disy of social death!

    And the situation was quickly bing uncontroble.

    As a member of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, what else could he do but silently pull out his second-hand old phone, switch to video recording mode...

    "Flowers worthy to be picked should be picked, don''t wait until they''re gone only to pick empty branches."

    "Advise you not to cherish your golden-threaded robe, advise you to cherish your youth instead."

    "Has he gone mad?"

    Even the always expressionless mechanic chief, Xiao Ming, couldn''t help but gape in astonishment.

    "Pretty much, and about to go over the edge!"

    Chen Fei muttered to himself after recording for a good while.

    He was beginning to understand why the two female pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron were both Type A¡ªit spelled trouble otherwise.

    In the following three days, nobody saw sight of Chekhov Big Bear.

    Manager Hanna deducted this squadron leader''s basic bonus for the month on the grounds of "public indecency".

    The LSP Big Bear, reflecting in Solitary Confinement, smacked his lips and muttered to himself, asionally letting out a silly chuckle.

    "Nice!"

    This wave wasn''t a loss!

    -

 Chapter 69: Section 69 - The Delegation of Sky Dragon City

    A weekter.

    A small business jet carrying psychological counselor Li Bai and his two female assistants glided onto the runway,

    momentster, the nose of the ne lifted gracefully, soaring into the sky, and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

    No sooner had the three left when the half-mad, half-crazed Chekhov Big Bear was finally released.

    Looking up at the sunny sky, he shouted with anticipation,

    "Goddess, here Ie!"

    The picker-upper, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, said irritably, "Your goddess has already left!"

    "You''re lying! You''re lying to me, aren''t you?"

    Chekhov mechanically turned his head to look at her.

    Holding her arms, Irinei Rusios jerked her chin toward the direction of the main runway and indicated, "See for yourself!"

    The runway was empty.

    Unwilling to ept this answer, Chekhov shuffled and broke into a jog for a distance, only to find the small business jet was nowhere to be seen.

    "Nuts... it''s gone!~"

    The frustrated tease stared desperately at the empty tarmac, finally recalling the recent roar of jet engines, unmistakably those of jet engines.

    The only jet nes at the Aircrew Base were those two MiG-28s.

    He was in solitary confinement, and the rookie was far from being ready to fly solo; if he could hear the sound of jet engines, then it had to be the visiting business jet at Aircrew Base.

    "Look at your pathetic self!"

    Chekhov''s cowardly demeanor infuriated "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios on the spot, prompting her to chase after him and kick him flying.

    Caught off guard, the Big Bear flopped to the ground,menting to the sky.

    The short-haired girl smirked relentlessly!

    -

    A twelve-seater electric vehicle sped toward them, driven by "Genuine Fragrance" squadron fire control operator "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown, who yelled all the way, "Squadron leader, squadron leader, Third-Level Combat Readiness, Third-Level Combat Readiness!"

    The guy''s thigh had been pierced by a Dragon Spike from a battle with the Metallic Dragons, Bit, nearly costing him his life.

    Now, he had recovered nicely, and aside from using a wheelchair, he could take a few steps with a cane and driving an electric vehicle posed no difficulty at all.

    "Third-Level Combat Readiness? What''s the situation now?"

    Chekhov scrambled up from the ground.

    Since he had been in confinement, his phone had naturally been confiscated, and he couldn''t receive urgent notifications from the base management instantly.

    Third-Level Combat Readiness meant that something had happened, requiring all personnel at Aircrew Base to be on standby, ready to scramble fighters at any moment.

    "I don''t know, I don''t have the clearance!"

    "Braised Sauce" Jack Brown braked, shrugging his shoulders.

    All pilots always awaited the squadron leader''s announcements and mission directives; inquiring independently was against the procedure, and recklessly overstepping one''s bounds wouldn''t yield any information.

    "To the hangar, Irinei, get in the car!"

    Chekhov didn''t hesitate any longer, pulling the short-haired girl into the vehicle.

    Since the electric vehicle used only electricity and not fuel, its maximum range when fully charged wasn''t far, just about 50 kilometers, but it moved smoothly within the bounds of the Aircrew Base.

    "An diplomatic mission from Cangqiong Star''s Sky Dragon City has arrived."

    After getting his phone back, Chekhov quickly found out the reason for the Third-Level Combat Readiness through his own ess.

    Cangqiong Star''s Sky Dragon City?

    The pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron looked at each other, feeling an extraordinarily distant sense of separation.

    Cangqiong Star, located on the other side of the "Halo" Dimensional Gate controlled by the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom, is a resource-rich that also boasts many intelligent life forms.

    Despite nearly thirty years of frequent interactions through the "Halo" Dimensional Gate and the early initiation of inter-dimensional trade, the top leaders of both sides werepletely familiar with each other.

    However, for the vast majority of the people of the Blue Star Realm who could not freely cross dimensions, their understanding of Cangqiong Star was limited to the inte, television programs, news, and books, without having the opportunity to experience it in person.

    The 911 Aircrew Base was just one of several subsidiary aircrew bases belonging to the military contractor Apocalypse Defense Group, and it didn''t have many differencespared to its peers.

    "What do they want to do?"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios asked, puzzled.

    Sky Dragon City, the territory of the Dragon n on Cangqiong Star, had suddenly sent a diplomatic team to a small aircrew base on Blue Star, which was truly iprehensible.

    The status of the two parties, from any perspective, was unequal.

    "It''s for the Metallic Dragon Bit!"

    The female executive manager Hanna Gagel of the 911 Aircrew Base had appeared in the assembly area of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron in Hangar One, just in time to hear the conversation between the squadron leaders.

    "Do they want revenge?"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios eximed in shock.

    With thebat strength of the dragons, obliterating an aircrew base would be a piece of cake.

    Had it not been for the depletion of some of the Metallic Dragon''s strength by several other aircrew bases''bat aircraft, coupled with rookie Chen Fei''s incredibly lucky shot firing the decisive "Dragon yer Missile" at thest moment, Apocalypse Defense Group would never have had the chance to profit so greatly.

    If the 911 Aircrew Base had faced the Metallic Dragon one-on-one, the former would definitely not have been a match for thetter.

    As the deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" finished speaking, the pilots'' faces quickly turned sour.

    The dragons really had their minds as small as the eye of a needle. Legitimately andwfully killing a Metallic Dragon was within the rules, yet they even thought of seeking revenge¡ªit was truly damn unreasonable.

    "Don''t worry, they won''t do it, whether it''s Blue Star or Cangqiong Star, there are rules," the female executive manager Hanna Gagel dismissed the possibility with a single sentence.

    Moreover, the order to kill the Metallic Dragon Bit had traced back to Sky Dragon City on Cangqiong Star, personally issued by the Dragon King.

    Anyone could foresee the kind of damage and loss a crazed dragon forcefully entering human society would cause.

    Manager Hanna continued, "The group psychological counseling that just concluded was preparation for weing this diplomatic delegation, so there''s no need to worry."

    What???

    Not only the short-haired girl "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, but even the messenger Chekhov Big Bear was taken aback.

    It was clear that the higher headquarters, Apocalypse Defense Group, had received this news long ago, and before the arrival of the Dragon n''s diplomatic team from Cangqiong Star, they conducted a thorough internal inspection at the 911 Aircrew Base to check for any potential hazards.

    Even though the diplomatic rules established by the twos allowed the "Halo" Dimensional Gate to float constantly open in space, it wasn''t something anyone could juste and go through whenever they wished.

    The approval process in the Blue Star Realm had secured the Apocalypse Defense Group valuable time to respond.

    However, from the report given by the psychological counselor, there seemed to be nothing to worry about.

    Even if the dragons from Sky Dragon City came to the 911 Aircrew Base, they were bound to gain very little.

    But the true motivations of these dragons remained open to question.

    "Beep beep beep!"

    A notification sound went off on the female executive manager Hanna Gagel.

    She took out her cell phone, looked at the screen, and then shouted loudly, "Five minutes left, the diplomatic team from Sky Dragon City is about to arrive."

    "There''s a meteor,ing straight down from the sky!"

    Suddenly, someone outside the hangar started shouting loudly.

    -

 Chapter 70: Section 70 - The Old Lady

    When the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom appeared in the near-Earth orbit of Blue Star, the number of meteors and falling celestial bodies significantly decreased. Even the rampant space debris vanished, leaving quite a bit of high altitude orbit exceptionally clean and safe.

    Some even joked that if any asteroid tried to hit Blue Star, it would likely be intercepted and disassembled by Cybertrom proactively.

    Fearingrge masses might cause gravitational disturbances to Blue Star and its moon, The Moon, Cybertrom regrly releases part of its metal raw materials, sending them through the "Halo" Dimensional Gate for Cangqiong Star on the other side.

    Coincidentally, the entire Metallic Dragon n had been eagerly awaiting these provisions, significantly easing their supply pressure.

    If they didn''t satisfy these gluttonous creatures, big trouble would ensue.

    The existence of Cybertrom is akin to an inte connection between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star and belongs to neither party alone; it''s a public property of Blue Star human civilization.

    It executes its intricate mechanisms with strict precision, silently constant above the in the near-Earth ecliptic, maintaining the same ne with several other majors, intersecting with the equatorial line only during the Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox.

    On clear days with favorable weather conditions, one could sometimes even spot its silhouette passing the sun or The Moon, like a twinkling star slowly moving across the sky.

    On Blue Star''s side, surrounding the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom shone brightly with its lights shing red, indicating it had entered operational state.

    After the countdown numbers prominently disyed hit zero, a massive conical object slowly emerged from the midst of the deep Dimensional Gate, revealing its hundred-meter length after a moment, as the nearby red lights collectively turned yellow.

    The metallic conical structure wasn''t seamless. To be precise, it wasposed of twelve equidistant segments, slowly rotating without any visible connectors, the visible spiral gap spiraling from the sharp tip to the blunt tailpleting exactly one rotation.

    Each segment of the cone was covered with strange lines and runes, giving off the exquisite vibe of a work of art.

    This Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, prepared for entry into the Blue Star''s atmosphere, was reusable and a specialty of Cangqiong Star Civilization.

    Thin beams of light scanned the surface of the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument rapidly, building a recognition model, followed closely by intense ultraviolet light which continuously irradiated it from tip to base for at least ten seconds.

    UVC rays with wavelengths of 200¨C275nm could kill most viruses and bacteria in seconds, directly damaging the microbial RNA or DNA.

    The UV disinfection step is a necessary hygiene protocol for living beings crossing between realms; no one can guarantee that an inconspicuous virus or bacterial colony in some corner wouldn''t pose a threat to the beings of Blue Star Realm.

    Thirty years ago, in the first few years of initial interactions between Cangqiong Star Civilization and Blue Star through the Dimensional Gate, humans arriving at each other''s worlds often exhibited mild fevers and diarrhea for three days to a week¡ªan adverse reaction that would spontaneously reduce without medication or treatment until it disappeared, as though it was self-limiting.

    After scientific analysis, this was determined to be a natural immune response from the body adapting to the local microbial environment. For healthy adults, it was not fatal; it was just a substantial reaction from the immune system that required some time.

    This situation was like a specialized response process: if you answered the challenge question incorrectly, you''d get a p; answer correctly, and there would be no issue.

    After getting pped, the body''s immune system would naturally learn to behave and correctly answer the challenge next time.

    It was only in recent years that this type of immune reaction, akin to limatizing, gradually disappeared. Humans from both realms have nearlypleted herd immunity, albeit with the emergence of over a dozen new strains of unique influenza and gastroenteritis, from which pharmaceuticalpanies have profited greatly.

    Two sleekly designedbat space shuttles disengaged from their docks on the digital intelligence construct and agilely flew over, nking the massive cone on either side.

    "''Sapphire'' Squad 07 in position!"

    "''Sapphire'' Squad 08 in position!"

    Cybertrom''s structure is permanently stationed by an elite force of Sky Knights, all of whose driving energyes from Cybertrom, and eachbat space shuttle is equipped with a highly rare SEG unit, which serves as the auxiliary energy and core of the anti-gravity field.

    The sovereign nations of Blue Star are not worried that the digital intelligence construct Cybertrom in the near-Earth orbit might be a Sword of Damocles over human heads.

    In fact, thirty years ago, if it weren''t for the assistance of Cybertrom, Blue Star''s human civilization would have struggled to hold out until the reinforcements from Cangqiong Star Civilization arrived to defeat the rebellious Third Era Civilization that had allied with rogue artificial intelligence.

    Without Cybertrom''s suppression, rebellious artificial intelligence would be a very troublesome hidden danger.

    The attitude of humans toward artificial intelligence and the digital intelligence constructed body Cybertrom is sharply contrasting; the two are not the same entity, and even their core mechanisms arepletely different.

    Artificial intelligence has higher freedom and independence and can be copied infinitely. If not eradicatedpletely, unless forced to reset or physically destroyed, they are bound to reignite and spread like wildfire sooner orter.

    Cybertrom, however, is a unique existence, unreplicable, with only the main body attached to the low Earth orbit and countless terminals. It also has intricate ties with the Metallic Dragons, and follows a rather rigid set of mechanisms, requiring human assistance.

    An artificial intelligence rebellion like that from over thirty years ago is nearly impossible.

    As twobat space shuttles approached, glimpses of onerge and one small Giant Dragon could be seen through the rotating gaps, along with the small constructed aircraft unique to Cangqiong Star.

    The diplomatic delegation from Sky Dragon City was not solelyprised of Dragon n envoys; the Sky Knights from Cangqiong were also present as escorts.

    It is unquestionable that Sky Dragon City of the Dragon n is equivalent to a sovereign state.

    "Diplomatic passport digital signature verification passed!"

    "Final confirmation approved by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee!"

    "You may enter the atmosphere, led by the ''Sapphire'' squad. Please enter through the designated window. The destination''s meteorological conditions are favorable. Good luck to you all!"

    The digital intelligence constructed body Cybertrom sent a signal, and the lights near the "Halo" Dimensional Gate changed from yellow to green, opening the entry route to Blue Star.

    The Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which was slowly moving away from the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, elerated silently, as if it had an intangible propulsor, with no visible engine me, yet its speed increased ever faster.

    The two escorting and leadingbat space shuttles escorted the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which enveloped the Sky Dragon City''s diplomatic delegation, reaching near the ionosphere of the Blue Star''s atmosphere. Only then did they return to the digital intelligence constructed body.

    The ionosphere, filled with countless charged particles, has extremely high temperatures. Whether entering slowly or rushing in at high speed, it''s impossible to avoid the high-temperature ordeal. Most extraterrestrial visitors disintegrate within this barrier of Blue Star.

    The surface temperature of the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, which burst through the designated window, instantly exceeded one thousand degrees Celsius, as if wrapped in Red Lotus Karma Fire, turning into a meteor.

    Rune after rune, line after line seemed to awaken, lighting up in session, with heat enough to melt gold and forge iron coursing through the magic array into the interior of the Deflector Magical Instrument, channeling into the fist-sized Demon Crystal inside; not only powering the magic array but also storing quite a bit of energy.

    After breaking the sound barrier, the huge roar caused by the shockwaves reached the interior of the Deflector, yet it was weakened countless times, reducing it to a mere faint noise, not enough to hinder the conversation between therge and small Giant Dragons suspended inside.

    "Auntie Clodia, can I find my own Dragon Rider on Blue Star?"

    "Don''t read those misleading online novels, Yn. There won''t be new Dragon Riders anymore!"

    "Why not?"

    "Because all the Dragon Flutes have been destroyed, without the Dragon Flute, there are no Dragon Riders. Otherwise, how could you summon your own Giant Dragon?"

    "But I''m already thirty years old, if I don''t have a Dragon Rider, I''ll be called an old auntie!"

    "Little girl, I''m almost a thousand years old, who dares call me old auntie? Even Gold Coin, that fellow, only calls me elder sister!"

    -Revised and revised again.

 Chapter 71: Section 71 - Blossoming Landing

    Therge Conical Deflector Magical Instrument produced by Sky Dragon City is the unmatched treasure for prating the atmosphere, more economical and practical than the initial one-time disposable deflector.

    Even when hurtling through the atmosphere like a Fire Meteor, the interior of the slowly rotating deflector remains calm and tranquil, hardly feeling the scorching heat and noise outside.

    Flying at ten times the speed of sound within the ionosphere filled with sma for nearly ten minutes, the intense mes enveloping the deflector gradually dissipated, and a long trail of condensed water vapor began to appear behind it, with the temperature plummeting to around minus one hundred degrees Celsius.

    The interior temperature of the deflector did not fluctuate even one degree Celsius due to the extreme changes in temperature outside.

    "Lord Illusion Dragon Clodia, we have exited the ionosphere and are slightly off course, two degrees to the left. We need to correct,"

    One of the four fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" from the First Squadron of the Sn Dynasty''s North District One Sky Cavalry Group, along with the two Giant Dragons inside the deflector, Sky Knight Micro confirmed the electronic signal was restored, and received the satellite positioning signal immediately.

    Although Cangqiong Star is mainly a civilization of Magic and Battle Qi, it has not rejected the conveniences brought about by technological civilization in the many years of exchange with Blue Star, and examples ofbining Magic Artifacts with electronic products are not rare, even showing an increasing trend.

    Stubborn old fogies who insist on tradition and refuse to ept new things and new technologies are not unique to Cangqiong Star; Blue Star has many too, but after all, they are the minority. With the passage of time, they will eventually be crushed into dust by the wheels of history.

    Entering Blue Star from the outer atmosphere, even following the nned route, deviating in the electromaically isted ionosphere is not strange at all. However, a millimeter of error leads to a kilometer of deviation. If not corrected in time, the destination will be increasingly distant.

    The information technology standards of Cangqiong Star and Blue Star are inherited from the same lineage. Even across dimensions, they can still be used without interruption, just with the addition of a ster code to the existing digital address recognition protocol IPv6¡ªBlue Star is "0000:", Cangqiong Star is "0001:".

    A four-digit hexadecimal code can support the origin recognition of 65,535 stars, reserving space for the future conquest of the sea of stars and ispletely sufficient for at least the next three hundred years.

    The poptions of the twos and other Intelligent Species are not expanding fast enough to deplete the massive amount of digital address recognition codes any time soon. The IPv6 address is already a vast quantity simr to the sands of the Ganges, let alone with the additional star codes multiplying the capacity exponentially.

    "Ah! I see it! Beginning correction, 800 kilometers from destination Aircrew Base 911."

    The female Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia, in charge of controlling the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, expended a bit of spiritual power, causing the evenly rotating deflector to slightly falter before resuming normal rotation.

    The flight trajectory feedback from the navigation satellite has once again ovepped with the nned route.

    Among the Dragon Race, the psychic talent of the Illusion Dragons is unrivaled, not only possessing a formidable spirit that is on par with that of Cangqiong''s other famous Intelligent Species renowned for their spiritual power, the Xuanyu Huang Star, but also more adept at the fine maniption of spiritual power and creating convincingly deceptive Illusions.

    The Conical Deflector Magical Instrument, from leaving Sky Dragon City, passing through the "Halo" Dimensional Gate, then entering Earth''s atmosphere, and all the way to its destination, was all controlled by this female Illusion Dragon, leaving no sense of vibration or excess noise, making the cross-dimensional trip extremelyfortable and pleasant.

    "We''re almost there, we''re almost there!"

    The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn was especially excited, as it was her first visit to Blue Star and she was curious about everything.

    The Metallic Dragons were not all stationed at Cangqiong''s side of the "Halo" Dimensional Gate. Most of the newly born young dragons lived on the ground, taken care of and educated by the Sn Dynasty.

    The new generation of Metallic digital dragons didn''t have the old generation Metallic Dragons'' plethora of bad habits and issues; their values were shaped to align perfectly with the mainstream.

    This was also why the Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia was willing to chat amiably with the Metallic Giant Dragon Yn. As for those old Metallic Dragons that didn''t know their ce, they wouldn''t even dream of receiving any pleasantries from her.

    "Distance 500 kilometers, verify the temporary identification signal, verification passed, begin epting guidance, rmend deceleration."

    The apanying Sky Knights were not only there as an escort, but they also carried the responsibility of navigation.

    It was rare for Sky Dragon City to send out a diplomatic mission, with the destination being an Aircrew Base of Blue Star Humans. With the Cangqiong Star People acting as intermediaries, even if there were misunderstandings in the exchanges, at least there was some leeway for adjustment.

    After all, there is a significant gap in the worldview between Dragons and Human Race, and it is not unusual formunications to be gued by ambiguities and misunderstandings.

    The spiritual power of Illusion Dragon Clodia fluctuated a few more times.

    The speed at which the Conical Deflector Magical Instrument traveled through the atmosphere of Blue Star gradually began to slow. The initial ten times the speed of sound is insignificant for meteors and meteorites.

    Most "uninvited guests" entering Blue Star''s atmosphere can reach forty to fifty times the speed of sound, but they never have deceleration in mind. They plunge toward the ground, with usually not even one in ten surviving.

    "Distance 100 kilometers, three times the speed of sound!"

    Sky Knight Micro had done his homework before departure, but this was still his first time entering Blue Star using the Dragon n''s Deflector Magical Instrument, and he dared not overlook any detail throughout the journey.

    If anything went wrong, the two giant dragons might be unscathed, but he and hisrades would definitely be done for.

    The innate physical strength of the Human Race could notpare to that of the Dragon n, no matter what.

    Clodia reminded them, "Sky Knights, activate your ''Sky Falcons'' and prepare fornding!"

    This was mainly to amodate the four Human Race Sky Knights, otherwise, even if Yn, the little dragon, was thrown out right now, it probably wouldn''t even harm a single dragon scale.

    As an older aunt¡ªno, elder sister of the Illusion Dragon species, she would definitely not have any problems.

    Half a minuteter, the descending "meteor" could be seen with the naked eye from the various aircrew bases in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

    The tower announcement rang out timely within the 911 Aircrew Base.

    "All units, please take notice, all units, please take notice, a diplomatic envoy from the Dragon Race of Cangqiong Star is about to arrive at our base. Please stay at your posts, and remain quiet and calm."

    The Apocalypse Defense Group, which had already received the news, was quite worried that someone in the 911 Aircrew Base might have apse in judgment and offend the two giant dragons, leading to irreversible consequences.

    Therefore, the news had been kept secret until just before the other party''s arrival, and psychological counselors had been dispatched to eliminate any potential issues.

    "A diplomatic envoy from the Dragon Race? What are they here for?"

    "Are they here for revenge? Has 911 been abandoned?"

    "Quick, find a ce to hide, go to the underground air-raid shelters."

    "Don''t run around! They are a diplomatic envoy, not a military force. Look how scared you all are, don''t disgrace us Blue Star People."

    "Easy for you to say, those are giant dragons, with one bite, you''re gone, where would you even argue about it?"

    "Why didn''t you say it earlier; we didn''t even have time to get psychologically prepared!"

    The 911 Aircrew Base fell into chaos. The apprehensions of the higher-ups at Apocalypse Defense Group were not misced; the impending arrival of the Dragon Race''s envoy indeed caused widespread panic. Everyone was not afraid of waging war against their own kind, as in the end, all humans could possibly be reasoned with, but reasoning with giant dragons, wasn''t that just insanity?

    When the Sky Dragon City''s Deflector Magical Instrument appeared, many fake admirers within the 911 Aircrew Base were exposed. Daily, they imed to be fans of the Dragon n, but now that they were truly here, those supposed fans were scared witless. What kind of love was that? Heeee... Puh! You''re no true fan!

    "Security team, check all posts; control anyone who is walking around aimlessly."

    The female executive manager, Hanna Gagar, was someone who could make decisive decisions quickly, cutting through the confusion with resolution.

    The security team immediately deployed, and more and more emotionally out-of-control individuals were captured and dragged away, and order began to be restored throughout the aircrew base.

    A pilot from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron pointed up at the sky and shouted, "They''re here!"

    The "meteor" became a visible conical object in the mid-air, blooming into a "flower" in an incredibly surprising manner, its petals slowly rotating as it neared the aircrew base.

    The conical Deflector Magical Instrument, made of twelve unconnected parts, revealed its ingenious design only duringnding.

    Behind the "petals," the figures of onerge and one small giant dragon and four assembledbat aircraft emerged.

    -

 Chapter 72: Section 72 - Intentions

    The potential energy gradually diminished, and the twelve fierce whooshing des plunged into the grass next to the main runway of Aircrew Base 911.

    A Psychic Illusion Dragon d in snow-white scales and a Metallic Digital Dragon with numerous sharp-ded wings descended from the sky, followed by the fourth-generation "Sky Falcon" with its four Wind Series Elemental Pulse Wings, allnding in session on the tarmac.

    While Cangqiong Star did not repel the technological civilization of Blue Star and even saw an increasing variety and quantity of technological products among its various intelligent species, Cangqiong Star still maintained its own civilization development mainstream and had not fully embraced Blue Star technology, nor had it abandoned its advantages in magic and Battle Qi.

    In fact, on the side of Blue Star, the number of magic artifacts was also greatly increasing, and the application of magic was bing more widespread, which, to some extent, contributed to the advancement of technological development.

    In the continuous exchange and trade between the two realms, the civilizational systems of both would tend to converge indefinitely yet always maintain their unique characteristics due to distance and historical culture.

    Civilizational integration is always measured in millennia; likely, the ruling sses of boths were well aware of this and knew that there was only one way to elerate this process.

    War!

    Thirty years after a great war among the Three Realms ended, nobody wanted to fight anymore.

    Even the Neanderthal Remnants, now integrated into both realms, were unwilling. The Supreme Council was destroyed and the Twelve Overlord Tribes had vanished. Peace was hard-earned. Wasn''t it good enough to live well without returning to a resource-exhausted, deste Primordial Realm?

    The proud Psychic Illusion Dragon raised its chin, looking down at the humans on the ground, as a wave of spiritual power swept across the entire base.

    Almost everyone''s mind heard the voice of a young woman.

    "I am Clodia from Cangqiong Star''s Dragon Race in Sky Dragon City!"

    Then it tilted its head toward the female Metallic Dragon next to it, saying, "Yn, introduce yourself."

    Even though they had collectively evolved into digital dragons, the Metallic Dragon Race was still insusceptible to psychic power and naturally could not receive the message carried by the psychic power wave.

    "I am Yn, a Metallic Dragon, thirty years old, currently a high school senior, and without a Dragon Knight!"

    The female Metallic Dragon had also evolved metallic membranes and, using maic vibrations, amplified her own voice three to four times, clearly audible throughout the entire Aircrew Base.

    High school junior, huh!

    The "roar" of the dragon caused the gathered crowd to wide-eyed and tongue-tied, unexpectedly bringing a sense of amusement.

    But why did the phrase "Dragon Knight" sound so much like "boyfriend"?

    The fans felt like their worldviews were being refreshed.

    After the "Halo" Dimensional Gate connected the two realms, not only did the Human Race of Cangqiong Star learn quite a bit from Blue Star, but many intelligent species, including the Dragon Race, also progressed with the times.

    Kindergarten, elementary, middle, and university levels of education were all avable, and even academic degrees were mutually recognized.

    However, the basic education of the Dragon Race was somewhat different, including not only general subjects likenguages, mathematics, natural biology, societal studies, geography, physics, chemistry, economics, politics, andputer science, but also traditional survival andbat skills.

    After all, they were dragons¡ªsharp teeth, sharp ws, hard scales, plus innate elemental magic (except the Metallic Dragons)¡ªthese were fundamental to the Dragon Race.

    A Sky Knight d in magic armor stepped forward, thumping his chest loudly as he stood tall and dered, "I am Sky Falcon Micron, captain of the First Squad of the Sky Cavalry Group''s First Brigade from n Dynasty''s North District One of Cangqiong Star!"

    "I am Moran, captain of the Shadow Fox Squad of the First Brigade''s First Squad from n Dynasty''s North District One of Cangqiong Star''s Sky Cavalry Group!"

    "I am Terry, a member of the Shadow Fox Squad of the First Brigade''s First Squad from n Dynasty''s North District One of Cangqiong Star''s Sky Cavalry Group!"

    "I am Loganda, captain of the Cracked Armor Snake Squad of the First Brigade''s First Squad from n Dynasty''s North District One of Cangqiong Star''s Sky Cavalry Group!"

    The four Sky Knights, two men and two women, all hailed from the n Dynasty''s North District One''s Sky Cavalry Group.

    Over the thirty years, n Empire of Cangqiong Starunched wars of unification, conquered other nations, achieved global unity, and dered the imperial title as the n Dynasty.

    Those human nations that had possessed Dragon Knights did notst long due to the Dragon Race opting out of the internal human conflicts, resulting in eleven years of warfare that finally subsided. Cangqiong Star no longer had a second sovereign nation, and most of the property of the various royal and noble families was confiscated.

    Family members were demoted tomoners, deprived of political rights for three generations, and relocated to unfamiliar continents by family units, never to rise again.

    Aside from humans, other intelligent species still maintained a loose organizational state, were required to register for household registration, and even intelligent magical beasts were no exception. Higher-ranking intelligent species were even required to wear satellite tracking devices, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

    Because the contemporary Dragon King maintained close ties with the Human Race and had needs to fight against the Extraterrestrial Races, the dragons had early registered and been positioned. They were not particrly opposed to the household registration policy, which was also an essential tool for the Dragon King to manage his kin.

    The intelligent species, forcibly designated as citizens of the Cangqiong Star Dynasty, soon reaped benefits; not only could they freely roam towns, but some were able to travel or work across borders, making their lives more vibrant.

    The n Dynasty, which had achieved unprecedented unity, followed the example of Blue Star and divided Cangqiong Star into twenty-four time zones. ording to the equator, it was further divided into the North and South Districts. The meridian line was defined near the Imperial Capital Dn City, with North District One designated as the Royal Garrison Area.

    The four Sky Knights had another identity: they were also the elite Royal Sky Knights.

    "Hello, I am Hanna Gagel, the executive manager here. Wee to Aircrew Base 911."

    In the middle of the crowd, the one-eyed female executive manager took the initiative to step forward; in fact, she was under the most pressure of anyone there.

    Sky Dragon City sent its Giant Dragon emissary, and the n Dynasty dispatched its Royal Sky Knights for escort, further strengthening its diplomatic status.

    So intense were the calls to the chairman of the Apocalypse Defense Group that his phone was almost exploding. Without exception, all demanded strict attention to this diplomatic event: do not let anything unexpected happen, even if it costs the destruction of Aircrew Base 911.

    The Psychic Illusion Dragon got straight to the point and said, "Can we begin now?"

    It hade with a mission and was certainly not here for a leisurely visit.

    Especially since ces like the Xingdu Kush Mountain Range, with their harsh and rugged terrain, really had nothing appealing to offer.

    "Of course, we''re ready!"

    Hanna Gagel nodded, feeling an inexplicable nervousness building inside.

    The inevitable was bound to happen, and there was no escaping it. She could only hope that this time it would pass safely.

    HR manager Takar squeezed through and asked anxiously, "Wait, Manager Hanna, what are we starting?"

    There seemed to be some understanding between the Giant Dragon and the executive manager that unnerved him greatly.

    If something significant were to ur, why not inform everyone in advance? This sudden development left no room for mental preparation and was bound to cause overthinking.

    Not just him¡ªmany within Aircrew Base also showed unease on their faces.

    Chen Fei heard the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squad, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, whisper in his ear, "It looks like trouble ising!"

    Whether it was that one-eyed old woman or the higher-ups at Apocalypse Defense, something was clearly being concealed, which was annoying.

    The short-haired girl felt for the first time that the nickname Big Bear had given to the new executive manager was quite apt.

    "Are they going to use us as a sacrifice?"

    The naive Chen Fei blurted out.

    He couldn''t understand what else at Aircrew Base 911 could possibly attract the visit of the Dragon Race.

    This damned ce really was cursed!

    "Don''t talk nonsense!"

    Chekhov also felt a pang of rm.

    A rookie is a bird, and a crow is also a bird, but he hoped these two birds weren''t any kind of rtives.

    All these damned capitalists should be dragged out and shot!

    "Everyone, please rest assured, this is an investigation, and it''s no different from the psychological counseling session we had not long ago."

    As for the real reason, Hanna Gagel still did not want to give away the slightest hint.

    In the world, no wall is imprable; the more people who know, the greater the risk of information leakage, which could cause unnecessary trouble for the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group hadn''t obtained the Heart Core of the Metallic Dragons'' Bit, nor even seen a shadow of the Heart Core Fragment. The Dragon Race was also concerned about this matter, even more eager than anyone to recover the core that held the Dragon Soul, and would even disregard other remnants.

    -

 Chapter 73: Section 73 - Tour Guide

    After a round of psychological consultations for everyone was already done, the psychological counselor, who didn''t y by the rules of Jianghu, actually used hypnotism; naturally, the consultation process was something no one wanted to recall.

    When they heard Manager Hanna''s exnation, the faces of everyone at Aircrew Base 911 went pale, no one wishing to drag out the darkest, most shameful part of their memories for another round of social death.

    But living shamefully was better than dying a good death, andpared to being squashed into a pulp by a Giant Dragon, it wasn''t entirely uneptable.

    That Metallic Dragon named Yn, looking innocent and carefree, was clearly a Grim Reaper lying in wait, ready to burst forth and im lives at any moment.

    If anyone truly treated the Dragon of ughter as an innocent, carefree creature, their graves would likely be grown over with grass three feet tall.

    "Not again!"

    The Scavenger squad''s cute, soft girl was dumbfounded, her eyes immediately misting over.

    The others had simrly dark expressions on their faces.

    Chen Fei, who hadn''t had his most embarrassing memories exposed, naturally couldn''t empathize, and with a dumbfounded face, he asked, "What''s wrong with you guys?"

    Chekhov Big Bear: "..."

    Chief mechanic Xiao Ming: "..."

    Human resources director Takar: "..."

    Everyone with terrible memories stirred up stared at the kid with their eyes, as if to say being silent doesn''t mean you''re mute.

    Little friend Chen Fei: "..."

    "Now I need a list, please keep yourselves in a rxed and happy mood."

    The wave of spiritual power from Illusion Dragon Clodia released once again, and without a word, everyone could hear its "voice," as if it resounded directly in their minds.

    Chen Fei remained clueless; Yn the Metallic Dragon was just as befuddled.

    The Psychic Illusion Dragon was used tomunicating via spiritual power; if it didn''t open its mouth, then there was nothing the other human and dragon could do.

    "Here is the list!"

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel immediately handed over the pre-prepared list.

    The team from Apocalypse Defense Group led by Psychological Counselor Li Baiing to Aircrew Base 911 was like a dress rehearsal, and now they were just following the recipe and doing it one more time.

    Spirit swept over the document, memorizing all the details, and Illusion Dragon Clodia officially started its task.

    "Now, number one, pleasee to me!"

    "Auntie Clodia, what about me? What can I do, am I in charge of severe torture?"

    The female Metallic Dragon Yn swished her tail, the sharp tip of her tail smashing a shocking hole into the ground.

    The people of Aircrew Base 911 collectively broke into sweat! Heavy sweat!! Waterfall sweat!!!

    What kind of torture was this?

    Being hit by that was certain death, a near-miss a brush with oblivion, a casual light strike enough to send one to meet King Yama.

    Sure enough! No goodes from a visitor of ill intent, and this Metallic Dragon was up to no good.

    The Psychic Illusion Dragon immediatelyined: "Don''t call me auntie. I''m not a thousand years old yet. Just like you, I''m underage; you should call me Sister Clodia!"

    The Metallic Dragon Yn said puzzledly: "But you are more than thirty times older than me!"

    Illusion Dragon Clodia carelessly replied: "So what? The Dragon n needs a thousand years to be considered an adult. Auntie is a title that doesn''t include the underage."

    Yn the Metallic Dragon said grumpily: "Alright then, sister Clodia!"

    "That works too!"

    Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia was momentarily taken aback but then delighted, as if she had suddenly grown hundreds of years younger.

    Underage dragons only needed to worry about eating, drinking, and merry-making daily. Once they reached adulthood, they would have to take on various responsibilities for their n.

    Clodia, who woulde of age in a few years, had started her adult internship early to prepare for her official duties and thus became the emissary tasked with this diplomatic mission to Blue Star''s Aircrew Base 911, responsible for investigating the disappearance of Metal Dragon Bit''s Heart Core.

    "So I''m free to do as I like now?"

    The female Metallic Dragon, Yn, slowly backed away, looking eager to try.

    The thirty-year-old young dragon was at an age when yfulness was her nature. If it weren''t for the diplomatic mission she remembered, she might have already gone wild with fun.

    Being a Giant Dragon on the verge of adulthood, Clodia seriously instructed, "Don''t wander more than 20 kilometers from me, don''t just eat anything, and make sure to keep your satellite tracking on!"

    She feared that in the blink of an eye, this little Metallic Dragon would be out of her hands.

    Since this mission was diplomatic in nature and not likely to face attacks, if anyone dared to be so bold, not only would the Dragon n not tolerate it, even the Sn Dynasty would step in.

    Given that safety was assured, Clodia''s main concern was whether Yn could control her appetite.

    After all, apart from their fondness for ughter andbat, Metallic Dragons were also notorious for their gluttony. It would have been okay if their diet consisted only of meat, vegetables, grains, and flour, but Metallic Dragons especially liked to eat metals.

    This could cause tremendous destruction to the Blue Star human civilization, which was built on metal smelting and processing technologies.

    "I will definitely keep my mouth in check."

    The female Metallic Dragon, Yn, gazed at the mountain-high stacks of standard containers nearby, swallowing her saliva and vowing, though her tone unavoidably carried a hint of insincerity.

    "It would be best if you could assign someone to follow Yn and keep an eye on her!"

    Clodia felt quite the headache over this.

    "A Leopard can''t change its spots," they say, and this was true for Metallic Dragons.

    "Chen Fei!"

    Manager Hanna Gagel of the Aircrew Base called out to Chen Fei, who was nervously shrinking back amongst the crowd.

    "Manager Hanna, is there something you need?"

    Chen Fei waspletely unaware of the spiritual power message that the Psychic Giant Dragon had sent to Manager Hanna.

    "There''s a task right now¡ªthe Metallic Giant Dragon needs a guide."

    The executive manager chose a more diplomatic phrase.

    "Me?!"

    Chen Fei heard the subtext and pointed at himself tentatively.

    "Yes, you! You''re a Metal Ability User, maybe you have something inmon with the Metallic Giant Dragons!"

    Hanna Gagel nodded decisively.

    "Can I refuse?"

    Chen Fei wore a sorrowful expression; he felt it was his bad luck being asked, as he already had a psychological shadow cast by that Metallic Giant Dragon.

    Furthermore, his Metal Elemental Psychic Power had nothing inmon with the Metallic Dragons at all¡ªthey werepletely unrted!

    Supernatural power users were a special product of Blue Star, while the Dragon Race hailed from Cangqiong Star.

    "Ten thousand Star Yuan a day!"

    Manager Hanna held up an index finger.

    "Deal!"

    Chen Fei eagerly agreed, as he noticed several of Takar''s countrymen, even including one of the two head chefs from the canteen and the packaging removal head chef Singh, also showing an eager expression.

    He had almost forgotten that these guys were almost as opportunistic as cockroaches, each one more interested in money than life itself.

    Seeing Chen Fei promptly agree, Takar''s fellow countrymen were all grinding their teeth in resentment.

    Especially Sanjani, who had oncepeted with Chen Fei for a spot in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, his sallow face nearly twisted with jealousy.

    While ten thousand Star Yuan wasn''t a huge sum, it certainly wasn''t an amount to be casually dismissed either.

    -

 Chapter 74: Section 74 - A Good Idea

    The Illusion Dragon Clodia looked down at the clearly panicked tiny human in front of her and said as gently as possible, "First, human, you can stand or lie down, it doesn''t matter. Just rx or be tense for a little while, I promise."

    These frail creatures were ridiculously delicate, as if they would break at the slightest touch.

    Emmm¡­ they wouldn''t actually break, but they could explode into a bloody mess.

    But that was not a worry, everything was under control.

    Beforeing here, Clodia had practiced many times.

    On the Cangqiong Star, the lives of death row inmates weren''t considered lives at all; they had no rights.

    The next second, a tendril of Clodia''s spiritual power prated the other party''s head, and the world in front of her seemed to change abruptly, as if time were reversing...

    ...

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel gave Chen Fei a look, signaling him to take away the female Metallic Dragon before she caused more trouble here.

    Despite differing views, there was a consensus between the Dragon Race and the Human Race.

    Metallic Dragons tended to cause more problems than they solved.

    "Um¡­ Yn, would you like to look around?"

    For ten thousand Star Yuan, Chen Fei bravely approached the petite Metallic Dragon.

    The fierce dragon head still made him somewhat nervous.

    The inventory of KDK-1 jet-intake hypersonic smart missiles at the Aircrew Base was zero; if she suddenly went berserk, nobody could stop her unless another Giant Dragon intervened.

    Instation process >>>>>>>>>>>¡­0.04%¡­"

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    Chen Fei, focused on the Dragon of ughter before him, had not noticed the downloading speed of the Phantosmia interface that once filled his entire visual field had changed.

    "What''s your name?"

    The female Metallic Dragon curiously sized up Chen Fei, considering him her designated tour guide here.

    Thetter was still very nervous, almost turning around and running away from the overwhelming pressure.

    "I am Chen Fei!"

    The young man volunteering as a guide didn''t realize his voice was clearly trembling.

    "Chirp!"

    As a Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu seemed fearlessly ignorant.

    "Hi, nice to meet you, Chen Fei. Wanna shake a w? Oh no, I mean, shake hands, your little Sparrow is very cute."

    Yn extended her right front paw. She had interacted with humans before, though not many, and the one she was most familiar with was Her Majesty the Empress of the n Dynasty.

    Chen Fei introduced the little bird jumping on his shoulder.

    "Its name is Xiao Jiu, my little buddy. Xiao Jiu, this is the Metallic Giant Dragon Yn!"

    "Chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu tilted its head, curiously examining the fierce beast before it.

    The female Metallic Dragon bared her fang-filled mouth in a terrifying grin, her cold, sharp ws capable of easily slicing open any armored vehicle.

    Chen Fei involuntarily swallowed, wondering if she intended to seize the opportunity to kill him under the guise of shaking hands.

    As expected, the Metallic Dragon harbored hidden murderous intents, and Chen Fei thought of an expletive he wasn''t sure he should utter.

    Chen Fei decided he would definitely ask that one-eyed tough woman for a raiseter.

    "Could you show me around?"

    The female Metallic Dragon Yn sneakily looked at those standard containers, drooling a bit.

    Those cute rectangles looked so solid, the dragon couldn''t help wanting to bite into one to taste it.

    Being a young dragon in the greedy stage of life, it was normal for her not to be able to control her appetite, and controlling it would be abnormal, possibly a sign of illness.

    "Uh, sure, no problem!"

    Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, nodded, and then led the way in front of the female Metallic Dragon Yn, touring around the Aircrew Base.

    He dared not lead the Metallic Dragon into the hangar; if she bit into a fighter jet, he figured he would cry to death.

    "Our Aircrew Base''s main gate faces south towards a narrow path, which is so tight four-wheeled vehicles can''t enter. To exit, one must rely entirely on walking¡­ The base has only one runway that''s 1500 meters long, suitable for medium and smaller transport nes and various fighters, whether they''re propeller-driven or jet-powered. A ''Magic Cube'' airshipnded there not too long ago.

    On either side of the runway are Maic Catchers, currently retracted underground, invisible... The east side of the runway has radar,munication antennas, weather stations, and anti-air defenses, while the west side features the control tower, apron, and hangars... and next to those, pilot dormitories and a cafeteria, and other personnel quarters further away...

    well, now mostly taken over by storage containers, and there''s also an Energy Tower there."

    Chen Fei proved to be a responsible guide, speaking and gesturing as he trotted along, barely keeping pace with the leisurely strides of the female Metallic Dragon.

    Instation process >>>>>>>>>>>¡­0.7%¡­"

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    After hearing an extensive introduction to the Aircrew Base, the inter...

    "Is this your first time seeing a Metallic Giant Dragon?"

    The female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yn, rolled her eyes dramatically.

    Even though it was a cute eye-roll, in Chen Fei''s eyes, it still looked murderous, ready to devour someone, truly scared the life out of him.

    Chen Fei scratched his head and tentatively said, "Um, if you don''t mind, I''ll treat you to some food."

    Treating a Metallic Giant Dragon to food, now that''s audacious.

    Five minutester, the adorable Yn was happily crunching on an alloy bar, dering, "I just loveplex vors." Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin

    Chen Fei''s Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu also flew onto a piece of metal ingot, curiously pecking at it, making a clear, tinkling sound, but it couldn''t leave a mark on the surface of the metal ingot.

    "As long as you like it..."

    Seeing the bright sparks and metal fragments shooting from between her teeth, Chen Fei couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat and managed to squeeze out a forced smile.

    Fortunately, he had recently dposed a lot of waste and remelted over ten tons of regenerated rough metal ingots.

    Due to theirplexposition, these regenerated rough metal ingots could only be used for less demanding applications, such as railings, scaffolding, and such¡ªnot even good enough for fasteners.

    Like a whirlwind, the ten-plus tons of regenerated rough metal ingots umted at the Aircrew Base were consumed in a sh.

    Noticing a newly piled heap of discarded waste nearby, the female Metallic Giant Dragon seemed eager for more as she pounced onto it and continued searching.

    Chen Fei, acting as a temporary tour guide, could hardly bear to look directly, feeling an uncanny resemnce to a pup scavenging through trash.

    Smack smack... crunch crunch... squeak squeak.

    Yn found this pile of discarded materials to be a treasure trove, always discovering some tasty little surprises and enjoying them immensely.

    A Dragon Envoy from Sky Dragon City rummaging through a trash heap?

    This kind of incident absolutely cannot get out, it must be kept secret at all costs.

    Chen Fei really wanted to intervene, but recalling her notorious reputation as the Dragon of ughter, he instantly lost his nerve, feelingpletely helpless¡ªit was just too difficult!

    The piled-up discarded materials were being scattered into a chaotic mess.

    Unfortunately, surprises are never too frequent, a fact Yn regrettably acknowledges.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>¡­1.0%¡­"

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    "No more!"

    "Just, just this much for now, give me some time, there might be more."

    Chen Fei''s cold sweat broke out again, he had long noticed that this female Metallic Giant Dragon was always eyeing those standard shipping containers.

    Most of these containers are metallic, attracting the greedy gaze of Metallic Giant Dragons is hardly surprising.

    "I''m almost done, I won''t make it difficult for you!"

    Yn showed understanding.

    After all, as a properly educated Metallic Giant Dragon, she was much more restrained than those greedy old folks who simply sit and suck up the dirt.

    "That''s good, that''s good!"

    Chen Fei heaved a long sigh of relief.

    "Let''s stroll nearby, I heard there''s a school nearby."

    The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn was quite interested in human schools.

    After all, she had attended six years of Royal Dragon Kindergarten and twelve years of primary, middle, and high school in the general obligatory education system, with only a few teachers not from the Giant Dragon race, and all her ssmates were Giant Dragons, even from the Metallic branch.

    Yn wanted to see the differences between human schools and dragon schools.

    "That won''t work, it''ll cause panic."

    Chen Fei waved his hands decisively, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

    Just recently, the nearby Patan Vige almost erupted into turmoil because a primary school teacher, Shen Fei, was kidnapped.

    The nerves are still taut and not rxed for long, suddenly introducing a Giant Dragon, especially a notorious one from the Metallic Dragons, the locals would definitely blow their tops.

    "I have an idea..."

    Being educated, the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn had a n.

    Rumble rumble rumble¡­ The ground shook erratically.

    A Metallic Giant Dragon moved on all fours, running swiftly.

    The people at the 911 Aircrew Base, awaiting the Psychic Illusion Dragon''s investigation, turned to the source of the sound.

    The joyful Metallic Giant Dragon sprinting along had a rope around her neck, with a person dangling from the other end.

    The person was continuously screaming in mid-air.

    "Help... me..."

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>¡­6.7%¡­"

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    In the eyes of the Dragon: Yn was being mischievous again, flying a poor man like a kite.

    In the eyes of humans: My, oh my, in the blink of an eye, the rookie managed to leash the Dragon of ughter, they''re walking the dragon! This youngster truly can, must support with triple six!

    -

 Chapter 75: Section 75 - Letting Go without Hesitation

    How could a well-behaved littledy like her run wild like a wolf or a boar?

    At the very least, she should be tied with a rope!

    The most direct manifestation of racial worldview differences was seen: Both humans and dragons believed their own perspectives were correct.

    Poor Chen Fei, such an unlucky kid.

    It was agreed that tying a rope would immediately enhance the sense of security.

    Of course, in theory, this is correct.

    But... you have to consider who you''re dealing with!

    Legally, the ones required to be on a leash when going out are canines, not dragons, not dragons, not dragons, the important thing must be said three times.

    This shows the importance of knowing and understanding thew.

    Chen Fei thought you could tie anything with a rope, and then he drifted away...

    "...Help..."

    "Chirp!"

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu loyally flew alongside.

    Dad can fly with me, it''s simply wonderful.

    The little bird was also in an exceptionally good mood.

    The excited female Metallic Dragon happily dashed out of the Aircrew Base 911.

    Having just searched through a memory, Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia nces at therge-sized dragon-specific tablet floating beside her. Upon seeing Yn''s location signal on the digital map, she felt relieved and continued calling out.

    The satellite would continue monitoring the little tyke''s location on its own; there was absolutely no need to worry about losing track of her.

    As for safety concerns, Clodia wasn''t worried at all. She and Yn were legally visiting diplomats, authorized by both realms, not only protected by various sovereign nations, but even the Apocalypse Defense Group, restrained by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, and the subordinate Aircrew Base 911 had the duty to protect both dragons.

    This waspletely different from the fate of the illegally border-crossing Metallic Dragon Bit, who after charging into the stratosphere, got a thorough beating till death.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group merely picked up a massive stroke of luck; otherwise, even with ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare to mess with the dragons'' affair.

    Micro, the leader of the four Sky Knights apanying the Sky Dragon City diplomatic mission, passed a look to the other three knights.

    Moran and Terry exchanged a nce and immediately headed for their "Sky Falcon" mounts.

    The rapid sound of pping wings filled the air as two fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" soared into the sky, chasing after the runaway female Metallic Dragon Yn and Chen Fei, who was temporarily acting as a tour guide.

    -

    "I send you away, to a ce a thousand miles away..."

    Unique to the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the "tricycle" gyrone skimmed over the valley from a low altitude.

    Suddenly, the ringing of a phone interrupted the pilot''s self-amused mood.

    "Hello, mom, I''m still flying... What''s that, all good here, can''t say ''nothing'' when flying... Teacher Shen''s outdoor pic, got it, just a look-see, just a turn away, I promise a smooth and sessful turnout, good-bye!~"

    After hanging up the satellite phone, the bearded pilot on the tricycle suddenly noticed something roaring furiously down on the ground, speeding away.

    Curious, he gently pushed the joystick forward, descending for a closer look.

    His eyes lit up and he started shouting.

    "Young man having fun, going for a stroll without giving a heads up, I''d have taken you for a hot pot meal!"

    In these sparsely popted wild mountains, suddenly seeing a passenger he had carried over a month ago delighted the bearded pilot. He still remembered his promise of a genuine Patan hotpot, the thought of which made his mouth water.

    City folks sure know how to have fun, swinging a rope midair, probably the legendary drynd waterskiing, um, sliding on air, impressive indeed!

    "That... uh... Kar... save me..."

    The howling wind pouring into his mouth made Chen Fei''s voice muffled and indistinct.

    "What''s that? Drink? No drinking, but hot pot is fine, hey, hot pot, it''s a deal then, just set up a time, I''m always avable!"

    With a buzzing engine behind the bearded pilot, even as he strained his ears to listen, he could barely make out "Karzai" and "Muhammad" and then couldn''t hear clearly anymore.

    The two were like chicken and duck talking, each saying their own thing, yet unable to hear each other distinctly.

    Chen Fei didn''t dare let go for even a moment. If he were bold enough to do so, he didn''t know whether the female Metallic Dragon might not care, but he certainly would be gone for good.

    The ringing phone sounded again, and the busy bearded pilot quickly took out his satellite phone, nced at the screen, and shouted to the dust-raising dragon and boy below: "Bro, gotta take a call first! Hello, hot pot?"

    Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelBin

    "Ah... help... me..."

    Chen Fei, who couldn''t even touch the ground, watched helplessly as the tricycle flew farther and farther away.

    At least if I came down to lend a hand, I wouldn''t get stuck on this rope.

    "Charge, ducks!"

    The thirty-year-old giant dragon elder sister had to learn all kinds of rules from the moment she hatched ¡ª no doing this, no doing that, be graceful, be reserved, listen, be clever, learning how to be a well-mannered and educateddy.

    Conservatory, kindergarten, twelve years ofpulsory education ¡ª never had she experienced the freedom to run wild like now, as if all the shackles were shed, running exhratingly and uninhibitedly.

    She didn''t want to slow down at all, only faster! Faster!!

    ...

    "Tweet!"

    The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, chasing after its father, pped its wings so hard that they almost created visible tip vortices.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>...67%..."

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    -

    The springtime pic day at Patan Elementary School was sunny and cloudless, a picture of tranquil beauty.

    Teacher Shen Fei led over sixty extremely excited children to a stream nked by lush vegetation, finding a rtively t area to startying out various items brought with them.

    Pots, pans,dles, and cleaning pads were essential, trench shovels flew as they dug pits stoves right there and then, along with more than a dozen lightweight travel and camping foldable tents and moisture-proof mats. No sooner had they been arranged than the children dive into them giggling,pletely unconcerned even if rocks beneath them made them grimace.

    Teacher Shen Fei pped her hands forcefully and said loudly, "No going into the water, do not drink unboiled water, ss leaders of each grade lead your teams.

    First graders, watch over our stuff; second graders, collect firewood; third graders, dig up wild vegetables; fourth graders, start fires and boil water; fifth graders, prepare to cook; sixth graders, check the surroundings and drive away wild animals."

    Under the leadership of the ss leaders from each grade, every task was carried out promptly, and the noisy students instantly became orderly.

    Not only did Teacher Shene armed to the teeth, backing a Type 95 automatic rifle, her waist also bore a small revolver. All the weapons and ammunition that could be carried were brought along, and the sixth graders each wielded an AK, taking on the responsibility of protecting their ssmates and teachers.

    In these treacherous mountains and harsh waters, the people were fierce, and firearms and ammunition were essential for life. Almost every household had at least one gun, and wealthier ones had one for each person, whether to deal with bandits or wild beasts, at least having the capacity for self-defense.

    The students of the sixth grade had almost all brought their family''s guns, each one prouder than thest, strutting around in groups, intimidatingly searching every nook and cranny, even rushing to kick a handful-sized nest, hoping to find a suitable "target" to show off their might with a few shots right there.

    A bunch of brats...

    In fact, in the twenty-mile radius around the school, there were almost no ferocious wild animals. The locals, whether vigers or bandits, would consciously clear out dangerous beasts near the school from time to time, which had be an unwritten rule.

    If they encountered ferocious animals in groups that they couldn''t handle, they only needed to give a shout, and the fighter jets from the Aircrew Base 911 would swoop in to bombard the area. A few cruise missilester, any threat could instantly vanish into smoke.

    Apanying them were two watchdogs, one ck and one yellow, "Ah Hu" and "Ah Mao", circling around their owner, even more excited than the elementary students.

    At this moment, the school was leftpletely unguarded, yet nobody worried about losing anything.

    The locals cherished Teacher Shen and the school dearly; who would dare target the school? That would be utterly foolish.

    The campsite chosen by Teacher Shen Fei for the pic was not far from the school, less than 5 kilometers away in a straight line, and was even closer to the Aircrew Base 911.

    Of course, straight-line distance and walking distance were different matters, but for aircraft, they were the same thing.

    Several crafty little girls picked blooming wildflowers and made a colorful flower crown which they ced on Teacher Shen''s head, circling her and cheering.

    "Teacher, you look so pretty!"

    "I wonder what kind of handsome guy would be worthy of you."

    "It must be a big deal! Oh, teacher, you''re blushing!"

    "Probably only a Dragon Knight would be worthy of our Teacher Shen."

    "The Dragon Knight will ride on his Giant Dragon, stepping on a rainbow, descending from the sky, wow, so romantic!"

    A bunch of underage girls began to daydream.

    "What Dragon Knight? That''s all a daydream!"

    The flower-crowned Teacher Shen Fei smiled and shook her head; in these wild mountains, where was there a Dragon Knight, stepping on rainbows? That''s probably only found in novels and TV shows.

    Rumble rumble rumble...

    It sounded like thunder rolled in the distance.

    Upstream from the babbling brook, the air filled with mist as if some enormous creature was charging towards the camp.

    "Roar!~"

    With an ear-splitting roar, a ferocious Giant Dragon burst through the mist-induced rainbow, entering the sight of Teacher Shen Fei and the more than sixty elementary school children.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>...97%..."

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    -

 Chapter 76: Section 76 - A Drenched Chicken

    Seeing the crowd ahead, Chen Fei was scared out of his wits and quickly shouted.

    "Stop, stop!"

    The giant de Wing suddenly spread out, giving the illusion of blotting out the sun, with the Sharp Edges glistening coldly in the sunlight.

    A gust of wind surged, sending tons of creek water flying into the air, constantly splitting and then falling back down like rain, as if a torrential downpour had started.

    Though the female Metallic Dragon had braked in time, she still slid a good hundred meters before finallying to a stop more than ten meters in front of Teacher Shen Fei and her students.

    The sudden gust and downpour caught the teachers and students on the shore off guard. Only a few first-year students who were setting up tents were lucky enough to avoid the cmity. The crystal-clear creek water became murky, and at least a dozen fish were thrown onto the shore, struggling in their death throes.

    Yn was a well-educateddy, who would never casually harm the life of an Intelligent Species.

    "Ah..."

    Chen Fei, whose momentum hadn''t subsided, was thrown into a puddle in front of the Metallic Dragon by the rope, sshing water everywhere, though with much less fanfare.

    It almost knocked the breath out of him.

    "It''s a Dragon Knight!"

    The drenched girls screamed without a care, their voices piercing.

    Had they seen only the dragon and not the person, they would''ve been scared witless, fleeing in all directions.

    But they saw not only the person but also the rope, so... it was all good, no worries ¨C it was a Dragon Rider, after all.

    A Dragon Rider my ass!

    After swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, Chen Fei emerged from the puddle with a forlorn face.

    Finally, the rope was loosened, and he was saved!

    "Chirp!~"

    The Pure Light Sparrow flitted across the water''s surface, seemingly unaffected by the turmoil.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>¡­99%¡­"

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    "Chen Fei?"

    Teacher Shen Fei was astounded. She hadn''t seen him for just two days, and now he was messing with dragons.

    They hurriedly, and with much fumbling, pulled Chen Fei out of the pit.

    "Hey, Teacher Shen, pfft!"

    Chen Fei spat out a mouthful of water and greeted her feebly,pletely drained of the strength to even lift his hand.

    It was terrifying beyond words, an experience too intense for words.

    "Instation progress>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>¡­100%¡­"

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    Ding!~

    Instation begins...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    End!

    Instationplete!

    The system will automatically restart after 15 seconds or manually reboot.

    Eh?!

    Chen Fei btedly realized that his vision had changed at some point. He had thought it would take decades for the progress bar toplete, yet somehow it had raced to the finish line.

    What kind of miraculous speed was this?

    "Chen Fei, what is this¡­"

    Teacher Shen Fei looked unbelievingly at the Metallic Dragon frolicking in the nearby creek water, then at Chen Fei.

    "Teacher Shen, let me pass out for a moment!"

    He really couldn''t hold on any longer.

    ReStart...

    He closed his eyes, then opened them again.

    System startup!

    "Er! Teacher Shen, how long did I pass out?"

    Chen Fei noticed a small icon with text, "My System," in the upper left corner of his vision.

    What''s this thing?

    DOS system upgraded to a graphical interface, but why wasn''t it Windows?

    Teacher Shen Fei said irritably, "You didn''t faint, you just blinked your eyes."

    In the blink of an eye, Chen Fei''s voice was full of vigor as if nothing had happened,cking the weakness from before, allowing her to finally rx.

    "I finally survived!"

    Chen Fei exhaled a long sigh of relief.

    He didn''t care why blinking his eyes hadpleted the system startup. He hoped this unnecessary thing wouldn''t bother him.

    Isn''t instant startup good enough?

    "Chen Fei, what happened?"

    Teacher Shen Fei, who had helped fish Chen Fei out of the water, had also be a drowned rat.

    "It''s a long story!"

    Chen Fei tried to sit up, and except for the fact that his body ached terribly, he felt as if his vitality and spirit were instantly fully rejuvenated, and his strength had returned.

    Did that so-called "My System" actually have such benefits after its instation?

    "Chen Fei, there are fish in the water, lots of fish, look quickly!"

    The female metallic dragon suddenly sprang out of the water, her body adorned with seven or eight fish of various sizes, excitedly showing them off to Chen Fei.

    Could a littledy dive headfirst without any regard for her image?

    She couldn''t!

    So what was sshing around in the creek?

    A giant dragon!

    No matter how well-behaved she usually seemed, the moment she was left unsupervised, her true nature would emerge.

    "I see them, I see them, there are even more on the shore."

    Chen Fei nodded perfunctorily and turned his gaze to see at least a dozen fish that the waves had tossed onto the bank.

    Those hanging on the body of Yn were merely the ones that escaped her grasp earlier; only now could you truly say she had caught them all.

    As expected of the Dragon of ughter, wherever she passed, everything turned to ruin, not a single de of grass would grow.

    "Her name is Yn, as you can see, she''s a metallic dragon, ah! It''s really quite troublesome!"

    After introducing her, Chen Fei exchanged a look with the seemingly formidable Teacher Shen Fei and let out another long sigh.

    Earning ten thousand Star Yuan a day really wasn''t easy.

    "Chirp!~"

    The ever-loyal Pure Light Sparrownded on Chen Fei''s shoulder, bouncing around cheerfully.

    Teacher Shen Fei, seeing this little bird unafraid of strangers, with its shiny ck feathers that looked somewhat familiar, surprisingly eximed, "Xiao Jiu?"

    "That''s right,e on, say hello to Teacher Shen!"

    Chen Fei beckoned, and Xiao Jiu obediently perched on his hand.

    Then, it flew to Teacher Shen Fei''s shoulder, acting very friendly and making itself utterly adorable with its bouncing around.

    "Xiao Jiu is so well-behaved!"

    Teacher Shen Fei was thrilled. She wanted to pet the little bird, but her hands were still wet. Fearing she might dampen its feathers, she lifted her hand but then put it back down again.

    "Achoo! Damn, I''m catching cold!"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but shiver.

    Although the spring sunlight was warm, the creek water was still quite cold. The adrenaline had kept him going in the water for a bit, and at first, he didn''t feel the chill, but after a while, it became too much, like being in a frozen wastnd, his limbs growing stiff and the cold biting into his bones like needles.

    Shen Fei also realized this issue.

    "Right, be careful not to catch a cold, let''s start a fire quickly. Light up all of the fires."

    The sudden downpour caused by the giant dragon left many soaked, only the second and third graders who had gone out to collect firewood and wild vegetables, along with the sixth graders who were hunting, were unaffected. Many first graders who were busy setting up tents or who were standing far away were also spared.

    The rest of the school children were more or less drenched.

    Chen Fei, who had fallen into a puddle, Shen Fei, who had dragged him ashore, and a few fifth graders were practically dripping from head to toe.

    They managed to light the gathered dry branches and rotten wood only after using up all of the solid alcohol blocks for ignition; although the green smoke was choking and irritated their eyes, the fire offered some warmth at least, much better than wearing damp clothes and waiting for a natural breeze to dry them.

    A few people, wrapped in nkets, gathered around a fire to warm themselves.

    Feeling the heat on her face, Shen Fei looked over at the metallic dragon still frolicking in the water and asked curiously, "Where did this metallic dragone from?"

    The rope was still hanging around its neck, making it hard to guess how it got there.

    After all, it was a giant dragon, and one with a notorious reputation as the Dragon of ughter at that. Being able to put a rope around the neck of such a being was impressive.

    Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and said, "She is one of the two diplomatic envoys from the Dragon n of Cangqiong Star. The other dragon is still at the base."

    A curious primary school student of Teacher Shen Fei asked, "Brother Fei, are you a Dragon Knight?"

    The other schoolchildren were equally excited.

    "How could that be possible?"

    Chen Fei rolled his eyes. He wasn''t even a Sky Knight, so how could he possibly be a Dragon Knight? Wishful thinking, nothing more.

    If he really were a Dragon Knight, would he still need to toil away for millions of Star Yuan in debt?

    "A diplomatic envoy! This one?"

    Forget dragons; even among humans, Shen Fei had never heard of such an undignified diplomat. What happened to the diplomatic mission? This was clearly just ying around!

    Itpletely defied her expectations.

    Helplessly, Chen Fei said, "She''s just a thirty-year-old little dragon, and I''m the unlucky one tasked with ying tour guide for her."

    In the Dragon n, one wasn''t considered an adult until reaching a thousand years old. At thirty, she was practically no different from a baby still in swaddling clothes.

    However, this metallic dragon hadn''t been wasting her time; Yn was already in her senior year of high school, just the right age for rebellious teenage antics, so it wasn''t surprising for her to act out in bizarre ways.

    "So she swam all the way here, hahaha, and you even put a rope on her. Does that thing even work? I''m utterly amazed by you."

    The quick-witted Teacher Shen Fei thought for just a moment and immediately guessed an answer not far from the truth. She burst into uncontrobleughter.

    Just imagining the scenes of Chen Fei''s journey thus far was too much to bear!

    "She put it on herself. What could I possibly do!"

    Chen Fei, too, had ended up in quite the predicament.

    -I woke upte

 Chapter 77: Section 77 - Its Still a Child

    Shen Fei instantly understood Chen Fei''s dilemma, but still asionally covered her mouth to snicker.

    "..." Chen Fei¡ú..¡ú, missy, enough already!

    Noticing Chen Fei''s increasingly dark expression, Teacher Shen straightened her face and said seriously, "Yes, yes, those evil capitalists, may they perish!"

    Capitalists: Are we eating your rice or what!

    "The fish are done!"

    The children, who had been roasting over the same fire, shouted excitedly, echoing through the schoolyard just five years ago.

    Beside the fire, they roasted not only clothes but also fish, weaving the task in wherever they could.

    Fearless as young calves, the children picked fish from the shore and daringly coaxed the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn to keep catching fish from the stream, apuding and cheering each time she tossed a fish ashore.

    Whether swimming upstream or downstream rapidly, sshing water everywhere, Yn would return covered with a variety of big and small fish, earning asting round of apuse and cheers, which quite went to her head.

    The elementary schoolers naturally imed these spoils of war, busying themselves with gutting and scaling the fish.

    Stuffing the bellies with sliced ginger and freshly picked wild onions, scoring the outside, rubbing it with oil, roasting it beside the fire until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, then sprinkling some pepper, salt, and cumin powder on top¡ªthey were only described with two words: delicious!

    "Delicious!"

    "Genuinely fragrant! So tender!"

    "So tasty!"

    With a plentiful amount of fish brought back by the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn, each elementary schooler had one to themselves, enjoying it tremendously.

    The two watchdogs that usually wagged their tails and fawned over everyonee mealtime were now hiding, tails tucked, in the bushes, unwilling toe out.

    If it weren''t for their concern for their owner and a crowd of little ancestors, the two would have probably already run away scared by that huge creature.

    Even the outwardly strong but inwardly weak "Ah Hu" managed to hold on.

    Finally cooling down the scalding roasted fish, Chen Fei took a small bite, spat out a few fine bones, and seeing Yn still causing trouble in the stream, he couldn''t help but express concern, "Won''t the fish in this stream be over fished?"

    The natural conditions in Xingdu Kush Mountain Area weren''t very good. The harsher the environment, the weaker the ecological bnce. The stream in front of them was a rare lucky find, but the crystal clear water wasn''t deep¡ªthe clearer the water, the fewer the fish; even if it was flowing, it might not sustain many fish.

    "No worries, it''s not breeding season yet, and there are plenty of fish both upstream and downstream."

    Teacher Shen Fei enjoyed her meal immensely, teasing Chen Fei''s little bird with a small piece of boneless fish belly.

    The little glutton, guessing the rtionship between Teacher Shen and his father, flew over without hesitation, pecked, and gulped it down neatly.

    The Pure Light Sparrow, an omnivorous magical beast, didn''t mind meat or vegetation and soon had a round belly, swallowing up the fish belly on Teacher Shen''s hand into its crop.

    "The environment here is really great."

    Chen Fei nodded in agreement.

    The mountain scenery was mostly monotone, with only asional greenery, most of which was moss and lichen, along with a few nts adapted to arid, cold, and barren soil. Only near sources of water did the vegetation thrive.

    Teacher Shen Fei chose this stream nearby as the students'' field campsite for good reason.

    "Do you still have to look after her for another day?"

    Shen Fei looked toward the endlessly energetic female Metallic Giant Dragon, which had dug arge pit in one section of the stream, gradually turning it into a pond.

    The destructive power of giant dragons, even in y, was still formidable.

    "That''s right, money is so hard to earn!"

    Chen Fei rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache, even making the roasted fish in his hand lose its appeal.

    "Let me help youe up with a solution!"

    Teacher Shen watched the female Metallic Giant Dragon, smiling slightly.

    A thirty-year-old dragon, even a ferocious Metallic Giant Dragon, is still a child!

    Afternoon.

    "Evil Dragon Catching Elementary Student game, begin now!"

    A group of elementary schoolers hid behind Yn, nervously watching Chen Fei across from them, with his menacing appearance.

    Who is the "Evil Dragon"?

    Of course, it''s Chen Fei!

    The female Metallic Giant Dragon retracted all its de Thorns and activated the talent "Void Maic Field" to reduce its weight to that of a child; then, it assumed the role of "Mother Hen," guarding a group of elementary school students and preventing Chen Fei, the "Evil Dragon," from seizing any opportunity.

    The clever Teacher Shen Fei cheered from the sidelines, acting as the referee.

    "The Evil Dragon ising!"

    Chen Fei yelled and lunged forward, causing a group of elementary school students to scream in terror.

    Children''s joy is often that simple; they don''t care about a Dragon of ughter as long as they have ymates to enjoy the game with.

    Two fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" hovered one thousand meters above the ground.

    Sky Knight Terry looked down from above and said incredulously, "What are they doing?"

    This "they" probably includes another ''it''.

    It was hard for anyone to imagine that a Metallic Giant Dragon could actually y with a group of Human Race youngsters; such a scene utterly subverted everyone''s expectations.

    Terry even began to doubt whether she was seeing an illusion.

    The captain of Shadow Fox Squad, leader of the first team of the North District One Sky Cavalry Group of the Sn Dynasty, Moran, hesitated and said, "ying, ying a game!"

    With a flick of spiritual power, he took a camera from his Storage Magical Device and switched to a 30x zoom lens to record a short video.

    If it weren''t for the two secretly supervising the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn, they probably wouldn''t have witnessed such a scene to find it almost unbelievable that Metallic Dragons had be so harmless.

    "Is this still the Dragon of ughter?"

    Sky Knight Terry shook her head, sighing emotionally.

    Her boss, Captain Moran, confidently said, "This is due to Her Majesty the Empress''s efforts!"

    Her Majesty the Empress spent thirty years painstakingly nurturing and educating these young Metallic Giant Dragons, cared for by the Sn Royal Family, indeed making them very different from their ferocious and inessible kin.

    If this perseverance continues, in a thousand years, the Metallic Dragon n willpletely change its adverse image in the minds of all Intelligent Species.

    ...

    Nearly half of the employees who had gathered at the Aircrew Base had already dispersed.

    In terms of efficiency in memory searching, the Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia surpassed Psychological Counselor Li Bai''s hypnotism, needing only five minutes to search through nearly a month''s memories.

    "That''s enough for today!"

    The Illusion Dragon lifted its head to nce at the sun setting towards the western horizon.

    The sky was filled with multicolored clouds, painting the final glow before the sunset.

    "Yn hasn''t returned yet."

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagar, who had remained at the Aircrew Base, kept looking anxiously toward the gate.

    Not only the female Metallic Giant Dragon but also two Sky Knights hadn''t returned; she wondered where they had gone, having not seen them all day.

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    Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

    A buzzing sound came from the sky as two fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" descended from above.

    "Back already?"

    The team leader of the first team of the North District One Sky Cavalry Group of the Sn Dynasty, leader of the attending personnel of Sky Dragon City, Micro, cast an inquiring nce at the returning Sky Knights.

    "Back already!"

    Captain Moran of the Shadow Fox Squad nodded nonchntly.

    The same question and the same answer meant no mishaps had urred, marking yet another peaceful day.

    Micro raised an eyebrow; after such a dramatic rush out, he had expected some sort of disturbance, but surprisingly, nothing had happened.

    This was indeed good news.

    Chen Fei and the female Metallic Giant Dragon appeared outside the gate,

    with a rope perfectly intact around thetter''s neck, the other end held by the former. A well-fed, worn-out Little Bird perched on a shoulder, its head tucked, eyes half-closed, asionally chirping sleepily.

    The donkey from the production team, no, the dragon, was being led back.

    This scene broke quite a few spectacles.

    -

 Chapter 78: Section 78 - Who is the Evil Dragon

    As soon as he entered the gates of the Aircrew Base, Chen Fei let go.

    The mission for the day had beenpleted, and he could justifiably im his bonus.

    And, he had to get paid extra!

    Seeing the female Metallic Dragon approaching him while swinging the leash, Clodia, the Psychic Illusion Dragon, suddenly sniffed the air and asked in confusion, "You smell like fish, Yn, what were you up to?"

    Metallic Dragons were supposed to strike with an air of menace and then return covered in the scent of blood, weren''t they?

    Something about this picture wasn''t right!

    "Evil Dragon capturing students!"

    Yn shook her draconic form, causing her sharp de Thorns to fully retract, and she resumed her original menacing appearance.

    "You''re capturing students?"

    Clodia looked around, wondering where one could find students amidst these deste mountains and ridges.

    Only when she expanded her spiritual power to its limits did she "see" a group of human children walking slowly in a single-file line along a mountain path, with a ce resembling a school in the distance.

    Patan Elementary School, the closest to the 911 Aircrew Base in the mountainous area, was just on the edge of her range of spiritual power coverage.

    "Not me, him!"

    The female Metallic Dragon looked toward Chen Fei, not too far away.

    "Ah?!"

    Illusion Dragon Clodia felt like something was amiss.

    Who exactly was the Evil Dragon?

    "I protected the school children, he pretended to be the Evil Dragon," Yn exined a bit more, seeing that Auntie Clodia, no, Elder Sister Clodia was still puzzled.

    Anyway, she had quite a yful time until the sun was low in the sky, and Chen Fei had to drag her back, or else she would have continued ying until dawn the next day.

    The group of school children also frolicked madly, nearly forgetting the time. But once their excitement wore off, they became so exhausted they started panting and dragged their feet all the way back to school,cking the high spirits they had on the way there. If it hadn''t been for Teacher Shen Fei''s urging all the way, they might have copsed on the road, refusing to budge.

    Clodia looked at Yn: "..."

    You''re the Evil Dragon, hey!!!

    Where''s your self-awareness?

    Equally exhausted, Chen Fei headed toward the base cafeteria, the two grilled fish he had for lunch had long been digested, and he had to have a big meal tonight no matter what.

    Chekhov Big Bear nced around and quickly followed in a few hurried strides, almost toppling Chen Fei over.

    "Hey, how did you manage that?"

    The fact that Chen Fei had the Metallic Dragon so obediently under control was truly incredible.

    Not just Chekhov wanted to ask this, but he was the most eager.

    "Chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu, startled awake, cast an annoyed look at the Big Bear, fluffed up her feathers, and curled up again.

    The Big Bear''s sudden movements almost sent his Little Bird flying away, and an irritated Chen Fei said, "Managed what?"

    "The leash!"

    Chekhov didn''t dare say it was like leading a dog with a leash. He was afraid the Giant Dragon would overhear and tten him into Chekhov paste.

    Chen Fei impatiently replied, "She leashed herself."

    Others had asked this question before. Only the dragons themselves would allow a leash around their necks. Wasn''t that easy to understand?

    "It leashed itself..."

    Chekhov''s bear eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

    Then, with some disbelief, he asked, "Just like that, obedient?"

    "Ah! Just like that, obedient!"

    Chen Fei said matter-of-factly, "Yn is a high school student, of course, she should listen to her teacher. Isn''t that right?"

    Whether or not a dragon is obedient depends on whether they meet the right person.

    Almost everyone subconsciously ignored Yn''s identity as a student, a high school senior.

    In their bones, they were already extremely adapted to the social circle they had been living in for twelve years. The intelligent species around them, whether the Dragon n, Human Race, or Magical Beast n, only had two identities: ssmates or teachers. The habits formed over twelve years were not something one could forget in a day or two.

    The words Yn mostmonly said were "Hello, teacher" and "Reporting to the teacher." Upon meeting the local Patan Elementary School teacher Shen Fei, Yn felt an inexplicable sense of closeness, which is why she could y with a group of human cubs without any barriers.

    "Teacher..."

    Squadron Leader Chekhov looked stupefied.

    Yet Chen Fei quickly sped up his pace and ran off, to avoid being stuck with him making endless conversation.

    He had been tired out during the day, and after a fierce evening session, he finally caught his breath.

    But no matter how tired, he couldn''t forget to help Chef Abel.

    The profiteer Old Piao was sent home to fend for himself, and after losing his helper, Chef Abel had to battle on alone, as he was a chef with principles who disdained to rely solely on processed frozen food packs to provide meals like another chef did.

    It wasn''t that there were no other hands avable; there were plenty of Takar''s fellow countrymen who were dirt cheapbor.

    But the problem was they ate much, did little, were terriblyzy, unsanitary, and liked to steal and lie ¨C basically the natural enemies of the kitchen. No matter how cheap, they couldn''t be hired!

    The other chef at the base''s canteen, Singh, although also a so-called rtive of personnel manager Takar through aplicated connection, was able to stay on because, well, he unpacked frozen packages mainly due to his obsession with cleanliness. He had to wipe the countertops and sinks eight times and polish the pots and pans until they shone brightly.

    He even had to use an ultravioletmp to go over everything, or he would feel uneasy and discontent.

    Such a so-called chef was considered a rarity among Takar''s fellow countrymen or rtives.

    Otherwise, Chef Abel would definitely not have agreed to share a kitchen with him. Even if there were the asional petty thefts, he turned a blind eye and let them pass without fuss.

    After taking a hot shower back at the dorm, Chen Fei, with Little Bird, who was already fast asleep in its cozy nest, headed to the shack where the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was located, to continue his night duty.

    He also brought along a few dishes to snack on, nning to mooch a few drinks from the old man ¨C a delightful indulgence!

    "Old Master Barut... Eh, Manager Hanna, what are you doing here?"

    The door to the steel-structured shack was never locked; a light push and it opened readily. But upon entering, Chen Fei saw not only the old Neanderthal man there, but the new female executive manager was present too.

    It seemed they were both waiting for him.

    Aircrew Base was a closed base with few outsidersing and going. Other than when Chen Fei and the old Neanderthal man alternated on guard duty, hardly anyone else came to the Energy Tower.

    If there were visitors, they were mostly the after-sale service personnel from the Energy Tower manufacturering for annual inspections, which happened at most twice a year. For the most part, theputer system monitored itself with automated reports, and high automation reced human operation.

    With the current electricity consumption rate of the Aircrew Base, it was feared that it would take ten years to replenish the fuel for the fusion reaction plugins. The lifespan of the Energy Tower was much longer than that; the Energy Tower with the longest operating life from the Third Era Civilization had been running without faults for 300 years.

    "You''ve arrived just in time; we were just talking about you."

    Hanna Gagar eyed Chen Fei up and down with her one eye, making him feel uneasy.

    What on earth did this woman want?

    Chen Fei carefully ventured, "Is, is there something you need? Manager Hanna."

    "Your special ability has awakened, and it cannot continue to go to waste. Only I can teach you how to control your special ability here at the Aircrew Base."

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagar rose gracefully from her seat. As a Wind-type supernatural power user, although not of the Metallic series, she still had the qualifications to guide Chen Fei into the doorway of the supernatural powermunity.

    "Wait a minute! I, he..."

    Chen Fei wasn''t ready at all, neither mentally nor physically.

    He looked puzzledly at Old Master Barut, the old Neanderthal man who was still kind of training him. Now with another ability to deal with, where would he find the time!

    Even a work team''s donkey couldn''t be treated this harshly!

    "I''m okay with it, as long as it doesn''t interfere. Come on, squat down."

    Barut waved his hand and casually took the food box from Chen Fei''s hands, cing it on the table and opening the lid - he immediately beamed with joy.

    Pig''s ears, pig''s tails, sheep''s trotters, cow''s hooves ¨C truly great snacks to apany drinks.

    "Squat down in a horse stance, and I''ll exin slowly."

    Manager Hanna took out a bottle of red wine, patted the body of the bottle, and the cork, breaking through the wax seal, popped out by itself.

    She hadn''te empty-handed; she poured the wine into a decanter and swirled it, then divided it into two wine sses.

    Pig''s ears paired with red wine was a much more refinedbination than salty pork slices with vodka.

    Facing two people he couldn''t afford to provoke, Chen Fei could only grimace and suck in his chest, tuck in his belly, stand with his waist upright, open his hips, drop his shoulders, and raise his groin, half-squatting down into a perfect toilet step position, also known as the horse stance.

    A work team''s horse would definitely not be able to squat in such a way, so the correct term should be the toilet step.

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 Chapter 79: Section 79 - Mastering Special Ability

    Ding!

    The two stem sses lightly clinked against each other.

    The old Neanderthal man tilted his head back and downed half a ss of red wine in one go, smacking his lips and making a tsk-tsk sound, but he shook his head.

    "Apart from having a higher alcohol content, it''s still not as good as my blueberry wine."

    The old man was honest, calling it like he saw it, never going against his own heart.

    This evaluation took Hanna Gagar by surprise. She put down her stem ss and said earnestly, "Can I try it?"

    She looked toward the small garden enveloping the energy tower and found the lush blueberry bushes, where the temperature and humidity were both very pleasant, no different from a real greenhouse or warm shed.

    While conducive to nt growth, these conditions weren''t necessarily good for fruit setting.

    As if sensing Hanna Gagar''s skepticism, Barut nodded and said, "Of course, please wait a moment!"

    He turned and left, and before long, he returned with a bottle full of purple liquid and two more stem sses.

    As an old drunk, various drinking vessels were indispensable.

    While pouring the wine, the Neanderthal elder said, "Only with arge temperature differential between day and night can sweet, delicious fruits be grown. When it''s time to fruit, I move them outside."

    In the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, except for winter, the temperature differential between day and night during spring, summer, and autumn was always significant, especially in summer when the highest daytime temperatures could reach over thirty degrees Celsius, plummeting to freezing cold after nightfall. As for winter, almost 95% of the time, the temperatures remained below zero degree Celsius.

    Constant temperature was only suitable for blooming and leaf growth, but it wouldn''t yield good fruit, and Barut had put a lot of effort into caring for these nts and flowers.

    You reap what you sow; the blueberries harvested each year were enough to make hundreds of pounds of fruit wine. Along with a few other types of fruit wine, it allowed the Neanderthal elder, who tended to his garden in his spare time, to be self-sufficient and enjoy his drink freely.

    The fruit wines that weren''t consumed in time were sealed and refrigerated, which allowed them to be preserved even longer.

    If one was willing to sacrifice some vor, using a distiller to increase the alcohol content could extend the preservation time even further. However, the esters produced during the aging of high-proof spirits couldn''tpensate for the lost original fruit aromas, which could be a bit of a loss.

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    After taking a small sip and savoring it in her mouth for a moment, Hanna Gagar nodded and said, "Barut, your blueberry wine indeed has more vor than the dry red from Lamlin Vineyards I brought."

    "Hey, hey, that''s enough from you two!"

    Chen Fei was dying with regret. What snacks did he bring to apany the drinks?

    Now he was in a fine mess, unable to get any snacks and only able to watch others drinking and eating.

    Wasn''t this too tempting?

    You two are overdoing it, hey!!!

    Chen Fei really wanted to discard the damn horse stance and join in the eating and drinking, but... he couldn''t beat either of them!

    "Huh! Just like that, you can''t handle it anymore?"

    The female executive manager, holding a stem ss filled with blueberry wine, came up to Chen Fei and scrutinized him from head to toe.

    "Who, who said that!"

    Chen Fei stiffened his neck; he could hold out for at least another quarter of an hour.

    A real man can''t admit defeat in front of a woman.

    "If nothing''s wrong, then stand more. When you can stand steadily for four hours, you''ll be considered a beginner."

    The Neanderthal tribe elder, Barut, picked up a piece of braisedmb hoof and started nibbling on it contentedly.

    After the gravy was absorbed, themb hoof became fragrant and tender, not as greasy as pig''s trotters, nor as muscr as cow''s trotters. One bite was full of cogen, the texture was perfect¡ªnot too greasy with just a bit more, and not too tough with just a bit less.

    Chen Fei''s face was streaked with ck lines. Last time, he had only managed to stand for eleven minutes. The thought of four hours was too daunting to even contemte. Are you trying to stand me to death, old man?

    The female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, held her wine ss with an air of leisure and said, "Stand well, and I''ll exin bit by bit."

    "..."

    Chen Fei kept silent, but his mind was filled with rich thoughts.

    What''s there to talk about? Let me have a sip of wine first. Standing like this mindlessly is really tiring.

    "Supernatural power users are a specialty of Blue Star. On Cangqiong Star, because the magic elements in the atmosphere are more active, it''s possible for mages and war professionals, these two kinds of ability users, to develop. Whereas Blue Star''s magic can only exist in novels and television dramas."

    "Perhaps in the Ancient Era, the magic elements in the atmosphere of Blue Star were once active, giving birth to many myths and legends that are still told today.

    Now, thanks to the Dimensional Gate between Blue Star and Cangqiong Star, a portion of the active magic elements have drifted over, awakening the Innate Talent of many Blue Star People, thus resulting in the appearance of supernatural power users."

    "Supernatural power users are not unique to Blue Star¡ªamong the Human Race of Cangqiong Star, there will asionally be supernatural power users who suddenly awaken, although they are very rare. It''s more suitable there for the emergence of mages and war professionals."

    "At the beginning of an awakening, a Special Ability is already set in stone and cannot be changed, and the room for growth is very limited, unlike mages who have a clear system. At least currently, there isn''t any. Chen Fei, as a Metal Ability User, you cannot activate a Wind-type Psionic Ability as I can. However, a mage could, although the efficiency would vary greatly.

    Elemental magic that ispatible with one''s Affinity is doubly effective, while the low-affinity ones are less effective, and may even be unstable."

    "Therefore, for every Ability User, the most important thing is control, precise control over one''s Special Ability. Whoever uses it more skillfully is the more powerful one. There are no trash Special Abilities, only trash Ability Users. Did you understand?"

    Hanna Gagel downed the Blueberry Wine in her tall ss, waiting for Chen Fei''s response.

    "Control? How do you control it?"

    Although he understood, when it came to applying it to himself, Chen Fei quickly became confused again.

    "Precisely speaking, it means using your Special Ability just right in the most suitable ce,

    for example, if you want to eat a boiled egg, Method 1: swallow it whole, Method 2: use a mini-drill to saw open the shell, Method 3: tap it on the table and then peel, Method 4: boil it, cool it in cold water, tap the shell and easily peel it off."

    Hanna Gagel''s tall ss was refilled once again.

    After trying the Blueberry Wine, she lost all interest in the dry red wine she brought with her.

    Wine, also a kind of fruit wine, might be finely brewed in a winery, but it still couldn''tpare to this Neanderthal elder''s homemade wine.

    Barut was quite willing to share hisbor''s fruits. Drinking alone is called solitary drinking, which one can''t do for long, and it''s also easy to get drunk. Drinking is about having more people for the atmosphere. Drinking, well, is all for the sake of a Happy time. Otherwise, getting yourself dizzy, what''s the fun in that?

    After the female executive manager made her analogy, Chen Fei immediately understood and said, "It''s about efficiency, the cost-effectiveness ratio."

    The degree of efficiency in using Special Abilities all depends on control. No wonder she kept emphasizing the control of Special Abilities.

    "It''s roughly the same idea. Because of differences in understanding, the effects of Special Abilities often vary from person to person." The executive manager stretched out her hand, and a small tornado formed in her palm, emitting a soft whistling sound. With a light pinch, it dissipated into nothingness.

    She continued, "The essence of wind is air, the variations in gas density, the changes in gas pressure, are the external manifestations of energy flow. Once you understand the essence of wind, you''ll also need a bit of imagination."

    Hanna Gagel gently pushed towards the door of the house, and a loud thud resonated, followed by a st of air, creating a whirlwind inside the steel-structured shack.

    Witnessing this, Chen Fei couldn''t help but inhale sharply.

    Barut discreetly timed the duration, fifteen minutes had passed, a teachable schr indeed.

    -

 Chapter 80: Section 80 - The Female Executive Managers Advice

    Once supernatural abilities are awakened, they are essentially set in stone, with little room for growth.

    Although the growth potential of magic and Battle Qi is far greater than that of supernatural abilities, their starting point is very low. A rookie who has just been exposed to magic and Battle Qi is definitely no match for someone whose abilities have just awakened¡ªas the former starts at level 1, and thetter starts at level 95, there''s naturally no basis forparison.

    However, all roads lead to Rome, and the ultimate limits one can reach are still confined by individual talent.

    Ultimately, whether one is stronger or not depends on how their abilities are utilized and their personal intelligence.

    "Even abilities within the same category have distinctions. The characteristics of your Metal Elemental Psychic Power need to be discovered by you, bit by bit. They are like treasures that have always been there, waiting to be found."

    Hanna Gagel''s gaze fell on Chen Fei; a defensive light weapon kic energy bullet was quite a practical characteristic.

    If this young man couldn''t unearth other characteristics of his abilities, being a natural human shield would suffice tond him a decent job as a bodyguard.

    At any rate, blocking bullets at close range would be a breeze.

    When Hanna Gagel said these words, she didn''t avoid speaking in front of the Neanderthal tribe elder, Grandpa Barut.

    In his younger days, this old fellow was a guard for the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization and might even surpass her in familiarity and understanding of supernatural abilities.

    "Uh... what characteristics are there? Could you tell me?"

    Chen Fei waspletely dumbstruck, as supernatural abilities were a world away from who he used to be, seemingly unbridgeable.

    The few talent tests he had undergone since childhood failed to reveal any supernatural abilities. Therefore, more detailed information was withheld from Chen Fei¡ªbig data and cloud technology would even actively block him. What he knew was limited to snippets of hearsay, which wasn''t much.

    For the average person, knowing these things isn''t very meaningful and can lead to wild thoughts that needlessly disturb one''s mood.

    "Regardless of the type of ability, the first step after awakening is to determine if it''s an internal control type or an external control type. Taking your Metal Elemental Psychic Power as an example, if it is external control type, you can control the metal outside your body at will, like vibrating, moving, deforming, fusing, extracting, etc.

    If it''s internal control type, you can give your body certain metal-like characteristics, such as hardness, conductivity, basic transformation, and sharpness, etc."

    Hanna Gagel took out a coin with a face value of one Star Yuan and said to Chen Fei, "Now hold the horse stance, open your right hand, and feel this coin."

    No wonder Old Master Barut said that the Toilet Step and practicing abilities didn''t conflict¡ªit turned out that one required physical movement while the other required mental effort.

    "Ding! Alloy Body 7 grams detected, absorb? Yes/No£ü."

    Eh?!

    Besides the icon for "My System" in the top-left corner of his field of vision, a line of text dropped down from above, hovering inside the boundary, with a grey gear symbol on the right.

    7 grams?

    Chen Fei focused his attention on "Yes" and then mentally repeated it.

    "Yes!~"

    The Star Yuan coin thaty quietly in the palm of his right hand disappeared in an instant, more precisely, it sank swiftly into his palm and vanished.

    "Absorbed Alloy Body 7 grams,position ratio: Iron 75%, Chromium 15%, Copper 5%, Nickel 3%, Aluminum 1%, Molybdenum 0.5%, Titanium 0.4%, Niobium 0.3%, Carbon 0.1%..."

    A total of over twentyponents were listed, with percentages urate to one-hundredth of a percent.

    Impressive!

    Before he even had time to ponder what this "My System" actually was, the mere user interface was already extraordinary, seemingly including a function for metalposition analysis.

    Wait! A lightbulb went off in Chen Fei''s head.

    Damn it, the culprit behind the mess with Big Bear''s AK has finallye to light.

    It was indeed him... He felt like crying! ©Ø©¤©Ø¦à¨t(¨F¡õ¡ä¨t)

    Hanna Gagel witnessed the Star Yuan coin disappear in Chen Fei''s palm with her own eyes.

    As expected... it was consumed!

    The day she rescued Chen Fei and Shen Fei from the cave, she had noticed that Chen Fei''s clothes were riddled with bullet holes, yet he waspletely unharmed.

    Simrly, not a single bullet was found at the scene.

    At that moment, she had her suspicions, and now they had been confirmed.

    The normal suppressive period for Supernatural Ability Suppressants is one month, with signs of gradual ineffectiveness typically appearing around the twenty-fifth day. Yet now, just eight full days had passed, and Chen Fei''s abilities could no longer be suppressed.

    The rate of inefficacy was unexpectedly fast and might be rted to personal constitution. Such cases are rare but not unheard of.

    Hanna Gagel asked tentatively, "Can you reverse it?"

    Chen Fei tried to imagine such a function, but there was no response. Instead, the two lines of text that had appeared sessively became transparent and disappeared after a moment, indicating they would not exist for a long time.

    He finally said helplessly, "I''m afraid¡­ I can''t!"

    It''s easy to eat, but hard to spit out.

    He looked toward "My System" in the upper left corner of his vision, but didn''t dare to open it.

    The system made Chen Fei feel ever more mysterious.

    "Then, let''s try one more time, don''t ''devour'' it, imagine it changing its shape."

    Hanna Gagel took out a second one Star Yuan coin and ced it in Chen Fei''s right hand.

    Her counterpart''s answer made her feel that the Supernatural Ability Suppressant might not have entirely lost its effect and was still somewhat inhibitory.

    "Ding! Detected 7 grams of Alloy Body, absorb: yes/no£ü."

    "No!"

    Chen Fei still wanted to talk more about Star Yuan with this female executive manager!

    Then, Emmm¡­

    I can''t squeeze out a shit!

    The one Star Yuan coin in the palm of his hand didn''t react at all, nothing happened.

    "It seems it won''t work!"

    Hanna Gagel shook her head regretfully, and then said, "Too bad, your Metal Elemental Psychic Power seems to be of the Internal control type, devouring metal to strengthen yourself, you need to eat more and gain more weight, and be a fat person, increasing your body weight to maximize the advantages of being a meat shield."

    Internal control types can only take care of themselves, leaning toward conservatism and defense.

    External control types of supernatural powers have a broader range of applications and are more aggressive.

    Hanna Gagel''s Wind-type Psionic Ability is an external control type that can be projected outward.

    In fact, most Wind-type Ability Users are external control types, as the free wind requires more space.

    A small number of Internal control type Wind Series Ability Users are rtively awkward, with few characteristics and limited means, they should at least not give off an internal sensation when it matters...

    Chen Fei said with a disgusted face, "I don''t want to be a fat person!"

    A wide body and plump stature make it natural to be more suitable as a meat shield.

    He neither wanted to be a meat shield nor did he want to be a fat person, not even a nimble fat person would do, being heavyset really damages one''s personal image.

    The female executive manager shrugged her shoulders, respecting Chen Fei''s choice, and continued, "That''s all for today. Later, I will give you a practice manual for Internal control type Metal Elemental Psychic Powers.

    Practice well, master it as soon as possible, and also, while the foreign delegations from Sky Dragon City are still here, I suggest you take the time to consult with that Metallic Dragon. To some extent, the Innate Abilities of the Metallic Dragons are equivalent to Internal control type Metal Elemental Psychic Powers. Opportunities like this are rare."

    Chen Fei had a moment of realization and nodded, "So that''s how it is, thanks, Manager Hanna."

    Before his Ability Awakening, he couldn''t ess this kind of knowledge, but encyclopedias rted to various creatures of Cangqiong Star, including the Dragon n, had long been selected for the basic educational textbooks on Blue Star.

    Even if you haven''t eaten pork, at least you''ve seen a pig run. There are many movies and TV shows on Blue Star and Cangqiong Star in this regard, and scenes featuring Metallic Dragons are numerous, whether they are heroes or viins, all without exception show off their abilities.

    If you consider the Innate Abilities of the Dragon Race as Special Abilities, then their ability level can be regarded as quite high-end.

    If Manager Hanna hadn''t made this suggestion, Chen Fei might havepletely missed this chance.

    Hanna Gagel waved her hand and picked up Barut''s Blueberry Wine bottle in one hand and a goblet in the other, gracefully swaying her waist, walked toward the door, and with a swing of her impressively curved behind, she strode away.

    "Grandpa Barut, how long has it been?"

    Chen Fei looked at the Neanderthal elder, feeling like he had squatted for too long, his whole body numb.

    "Hmm, today''s performance wasn''t bad, it''s been over half an hour," Barut said with a smile, pointing at the timer on his phone.

    35 minutes 45 seconds, 46 seconds, 47 seconds...

    "Ah!!!"

    -

 Chapter 81: Section 81 - My System

    ```

    The elite warrior of the Neanderthal tribe swung out a sky full of palm shadows, and little Chen Fei was pped dizzy. When he finally regained the ability to move, his whole body felt like it had just been fished out of water.

    Just to think, only an hour ago, he had taken a bath.

    After finishing the sparring session, the old man wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "Alright, go take a showerter, get a good night''s sleep, and I''lle to get you tomorrow morning."

    "I''m almost dead!"

    Chen Fei replied weakly.

    If it weren''t for his stiff muscles being forcibly dispersed by the blows and his blood cirction reviving, he might indeed have died.

    "Hehe, young man, you still have a long life ahead of you, stop talking about death all the time, I''m off!"

    Barut picked up the snacks Chen Fei had brought for drinking, not leaving a single one behind, and even took off with the red wine that Manager Hanna had brought.

    Since the cork wasn''t put back after opening the bottle, it was left open for a while, and the wine should have aired just right. It was the perfect time to drink it.

    Now, Chen Fei was the only person left in the steel structured shed housing the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower.

    A rant absolutely needs to be said!

    Unfortunately, there''s no one to hear...

    The Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu curled up in its nest, sleeping soundly.

    After a hot shower, Chen Fei rxed and copsed onto the bed inside the hut.

    He was so tossed around the whole day that he didn''t want to move at all.

    His gaze shifted to the upper left corner.

    "My System," this was a text icon.

    "My System... Oh crap!"

    Chen Fei involuntarily read it out loud, and as the icon shed, it was selected and activated.

    Damn it, too curious again...

    An interface window popped up before his eyes, scaring the hell out of him!

    This damn system is kind of like Schr?dinger''s cat, no user manual at all, totally reliant on guessing!

    Who knows what the hell the next interface will be.

    Before this, he''d suffered enough from this "Phantosmia."

    The window that popped up had several neatly arranged icons.

    1. System Settings

    ¡¸Chen Fei<(£þ3£þ)>: This seems pretty standard.¡¹

    2. App Market¡ù Suddenly it shed and changed to "Skill Shop"

    ¡¸Chen Fei¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã)¦õ: This is wrong, it wasn''t these four words just now, why did it suddenly change?¡¹

    3. My Apps¡ù Another sh, it turned into "My Skills"

    ¡¸Chen Fei(¡Ñ?¡Ñ): Emmm, this ghost system evenes with on-the-fly editing, this system is haunted!!¡¹

    He could only continue reading.

    4. Individual Information

    ¡¸Chen Fei£¨¡ª¡ª!£©: I have a bad feeling about this¡¹

    5. Task List

    Chen Fei suddenly sat up.

    There are tasks???

    This is a trap!

    Can''t we just y nicely together?

    Screw it!

    Looks like... I can only chill by myself!

    Thump! Chen Fei flopped back down heavily, feeling utterly disheartened, wishing he could just reset himself like formatting.

    He clicked on the icons one by one.

    "System Settings" inside this were options such as "Network Management," "Date and Time," "Brightness and Sound," "Interface Settings," "Notification Management"... "System Information," a total mess, basically a PC system''s control panel.

    There was an odd sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu with mobilemunication systems.

    Familiarly selecting "System Information."

    Device Name: Unnamed

    System Version Number: Test _1.0 _Beta

    It''s actually a test system, could it be any more reliable?

    Looking at the "Skill Shop," the trading unit is "Energy Points."

    Uh...

    Physical Evolution Database: 100 Energy Points

    File Management Plugin: 120 Energy Points

    Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points

    Evolution elerator Level 0 (0-9 Level): 500 Energy Points

    Energy Storage Upgrade (+5000): 5000 points

    Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Particle Beam (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Microwave Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points

    ...

    So expensive!

    There were about a dozen pages in total, and he couldn''t finish looking through them all at once, so he temporarily exited.

    ```

    "My Skills": 1. Metal Devouring, 2. Eyes of Tyranny (consumes 1 energy point, duration 15 seconds, cooldown time 15 seconds)

    Two skills, what a surprise!

    Too bad there''s no "eating bullets" skill. It seems "Metal Devouring" took care of that, but it still hurt quite a bit.

    Now, let''s check the "Individual Information".

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 11/11

    Burst Strength: 9/55

    Fullness: 90%

    Active time: 102 hours

    Energy Points: 2/5000

    At 22 years old, to still be considered arval form is just speechless.

    How old do you have to be to be an adult, System Old Iron? 1000 years old?

    Thest item, "Quest List":

    1. Devour 1 ton of metal, earn +1 Energy Point (Novice Quest)

    2. Beat up passersby, earn +10 Energy Points (Novice Quest)

    What the hell kind of quests are these? They make me want to hit someone.

    Forget it, time to sleep!

    System, go ahead and crash already.

    Chen Fei has nothing but disdain for this bizarre "My System".

    Instead of waking up with a jolt, for once, I got a good night''s sleep.

    The sleeping pills the doctor prescribed don''t seem necessary anymore.

    -

    Early in the morning, eager to get to Hangar 1, the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft number 216 had been dismantled for a full seven days, down to the very screws.

    If it wasn''t for the hands-on teaching, it would have taken no more than two days to dismantle it.

    The tortured turboprop 216: Hey you, I think I can still be saved.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao had personally shown Chen Fei how to disassemble the light turboprop aircraft, and now Chen Fei had to reassemble it by himself. It had to be done in one go, ignite on the first try, and take two flights before he could be considered trained.

    After being an assistant for a while longer, he would be able to work independently.

    Mechanics trained this way can''t be considered fully qualified but are only suitable as maintenance personnel for a specific aircraft type, still unqualified to work on other models.

    If he wanted to get his hands on the two Z-9 armed helicopters in the hangar, it looks like he would have to start all over again from scratch.

    As soon as he walked into the sprawling work area, someone called out to him.

    "Chen Fei, your job for the next few days is to apany Yn, the diplomatic envoy from Sky Dragon City until the diplomatic mission returns to Cangqiong Star."

    The person addressing him was Executive Manager Hanna Gagel, who had managed to confront him on the spot.

    "But..."

    Chen Fei had just picked up a set of hex keys when he nced at thepletely misshapen "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft.

    Compared to the female Metallic Dragons, the airne looked much more lovable.

    "No buts, I''ve already notified the Chief Mechanic."

    Hanna Gagel continued, "I''ve sent information about internal control type Metal Ability Users to your employee ount. Make sure to check it when you have a moment."

    The executive manager was efficient; she had only mentioned itst night, and by this morning, it was ready.

    "Go on, you can put it back together in a few days; we''re not in a hurry to use it."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming approached.

    Hanna Gagel was not only the executive manager of the Aircrew Base but also the boss of all mid-level managers.

    The helpless turboprop 216: Save me...

    Taking advantage of Manager Hanna''s presence, Chen Fei didn''t hesitate to say, "Manager Hanna, I need a raise!"

    He was risking his life for money, so he had every right to be bold.

    "How much?"

    The female executive manager smiled enigmatically at the young man.

    "Five thousand, no less."

    Chen Fei thought for a moment and summoned the courage to hold out his hand.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming was about to interject on his behalf, but upon hearing the amount, he fell silent.

    He had expected a request for fifty thousand, not this measly amount!

    Young man, you should be bolder!

    Be bold to ride dragons and tigers; be timid, and you''ll be stuck riding cat''s tails.

    Be bold, and your path will widen.

    "Deal. Your Special Ability training guidance fee is five thousand a day. That''s settled."

    Hanna Gagel''s expression turned even more mysterious, and she walked away immediately after saying this indisputably.

    An unforeseen daily fee of five thousand Star Yuan for Special Ability training guidance left Chen Fei dumbfounded on the spot, and it took him a while toe to his senses, looking at Xiao Ming.

    "Boss, what does she mean by that?"

    "You could''ve asked for more next time."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao remained expressionless, paused, and then added, "Special Ability training guidance fee, five thousand Star Yuan, it''s not expensive!"

    Honest people, no matter the asion, always speak the most heartfelt words.

    - Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin

 Chapter 82: Section 82 - Energy Points +10

    Superpower levels on Blue Star are ssified into G, F, E, D, C, B, A, and S levels.

    G-level is the weakest, with a supernatural reaction limited only to personal perception or close-range external control, and the duration of power is very brief. It does not have practical professional value and is known as a civilian superpower level along with F-level, mainly for personal amusement.

    Starting from F-level, superpowers begin to have professional tactical value. A-level is the regr upper limit of tactical superpower level. Above that is the S-level, which involves strategic level powers, often a core asset ofrge consortia and sovereign militaries, rarely seen in public.

    Hanna Gagar was not only the former Second-Level Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Apocalypse Defense Group and the current executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, but also a C-level Wind-type supernatural power user who provided one-on-one instructions to newly awakened supernatural power users, charging five thousand Star Yuan a day, which is not cheap but also far from exorbitant, only said to be average industry standard.

    However, what Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming referred to as "not expensive" was that a C-level supernatural power user was willing to instruct others in controlling their powers, especially for a newly awakened individual like Chen Fei, which is somewhat an overkill.

    This level of supernatural power users often do not have the spare time to guide rookies who know nothing and are even toozy to talk more, even casually doing something else would earn more.

    As a high-level talent with special abilities and also the highest responsible person of a subsidiary unit under the Apocalypse Defense Group, Hanna Gagar''s monthly sry is definitely more than 150,000 Star Yuan.

    "Next time I''m definitely asking for a higher price!"

    Chen Fei gritted his teeth.

    Damn it!

    He failed to get a raise and even let that one-eyed woman dismiss it offhand.

    Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming, as if recalling something, then said, "Little Chen, a batch of fighter wreckage has just been dessified and sent to the recycle station, take some time to disassemble it."

    The vast resources brought by the "Luo Jing Number" Phantom Cube-366MAX Heavy Transport Airship could not be sorted in a day or two, and the logistics department still could not spare the manpower to deal with the daily umtion of garbage and waste at the entire Aircrew Base.

    This task was essentially dumped on the neer, Chen Fei.

    Luckily, the workload was manageable, disassembling and recycling every few days were sufficient to cope, with most of it being fragmented tasks that needed monitoring but were not worth long-term stationing.

    "Boss, is that pile of junk still there?"

    Chen Fei thought that the wreckage of those fighters had already been disassembled or taken away.

    The day they fought against the Metallic Dragons Bit, the fighters lost weren''t only from the 911 Aircrew Base''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s two "Big Mouth Monsters" and the two prematurely fallen American-made MiG-28s; other bases also suffered losses.

    When 911 Aircrew Base collected the wreckage of the fighters, they also gathered all the nearby fallen fusges, totaling almost seven or eight, almost a fullbat squadron.

    Xiao Ming nodded and answered, "Yep! Because of secrecy regtions."

    The reason it has been stored until now was primarily to check if any fragments from the Metallic Dragons were mixed in.

    Only today had they finallypleted the inspection and began the disassembly and recycling process.

    "Understood!"

    Chen Fei immediately made an OK gesture.

    He was already well acquainted with the recycling station''s procedures.

    "That Metallic Dragon seems to feed on metal; you could maintain a good rtionship with it."

    Chief Mechanic Xiao felt he should remind his little brother on how to increase his survival odds when dealing with Metallic Dragons.

    If luck favored him and he conned a SEG core unit or something, it would be a huge windfall.

    Not only could he clear out his debt, but he could also make a big profit.

    Xiao Ming didn''t stop Chen Fei from earning that death-defying ten thousand Star Yuan a day, primarily considering this very point.

    The HR manager, Takar''s fellow vigers, were so jealous they were practically fuming.

    "Thanks for the heads-up, boss."

    Chen Fei nodded.

    He wasn''t stupid, and students nowadays were certainly not bookworms ignorant of worldly ways; he knew a bit about human rtionships.

    The first day the Metallic Dragon Yn came to 911 Aircrew Base, Chen Fei used the recycled Regenerated Rough Metal Ingot from the recycling station to cozy up to it, instantly narrowing the distance between them.

    He had barely walked far from Hangar 1 when a few people stopped Chen Fei, swinging chains, steel pipes, and crowbars, looking quite unfriendly.

    "Sanjani, why is it you again?"

    Chen Fei recognized one of them, and the others looked like they were his countrymen from their appearance.

    After all, racial features are rtively easy to recognize.

    Sanjani weighed the all-steel crowbar in his hand and sneered, "Chen, I''ll give you a chance, go back to your dorm right now, tuck yourself in bed, and stay put. We''ll take care of the Metallic Dragon."

    His face was full of greed, as if the whole world owed him something.

    "You also want to earn ten thousand Star Yuan a day?"

    Chen Fei immediately understood their intentions.

    So, they couldn''t hold it in anymore, could they?

    How_Dare_You!?

    "Looks like you''re not willing, eh? We''ll make you willing! Boys, beat him up!"

    Sanjani still remembered, now with his side having the numerical advantage, it was a good time for revenge.

    No reason to withhold revenge when the opportunity arises.

    Fury rose in his heart, malice stemmed from gall, and without further ado, they were ready to physically persuade Chen Fei.

    "Metal Devouring!"

    Chen Fei softly uttered the phrase.

    The next second, steel pipes, crowbars, and iron chains came crashing down on him.

    Hisss!

    So painful!

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but wince, realizing that pretending to be unfazed was not worth it.

    Devouring metal did not equate to devouring kic energy; the force was still present.

    Sanjani and the others, however, suddenly stopped their movements, staring at their empty hands as if they had seen a ghost. Where are my weapons?

    A sudden and unexpected force had snatched the cold weapons from their hands, yet they hadn''t seen where they''d gone.

    While these guys were still confused, Chen Fei''s palm had already whooshed towards them.

    ng, bang, smack...

    "Ding! ''Rookie task: Beat up a bystander''pleted, Energy Points +10!"

    Looking at the mess on the ground, Chen Fei shook his head.

    Even if he identallypleted a system task and gained energy points, he couldn''t feel happy about it.

    As fragile as ever!

    So littlebat power and still trying to show off, what ack of achievement, garbage!

    Stepping over Sanjani''s body, Chen Fei walked towards a female Metallic Dragon lying sprawled on the grass beside the runway.

    "Snore! Pop the head, bam, dead! Crunch-crunch, crunch¡­"

    Pfft!~~~~~~!

    All paws in the air, dog-paddle style!

    Yn had no sleep manners, arge swatch of lush grass already troubled away.

    Grinding teeth, kicking covers, farting, talking in sleep, snoring¡ªall the vices were present.

    It seemed understandable why Illusion Dragon Clodia rested inside Hangar 2, while this female Metallic Dragon chose the sky as cover and the ground as bed for her open-air slumber.

    "Yn!" Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin

    Chen Fei called out from afar.

    Pfft!

    The female Metallic Dragon flopped over, replying with a fart.

    Uh, a real fart!

    Deadly stinky, that fart definitely was toxic!

    Chen Fei, almost knocked over by the stench, shook his head and called out loudly, "Yn, time''s up!"

    "Ah! Time''s up? Time''s up! Time..."

    Just like a carp trying to leap straight up, the female Metallic Dragon nervously looked around, shivering in fright, and then looked down at the non-existent test paper.

    No test paper!

    Scared to death!

    After sighing in relief, Yn finally remembered the voice and looked in that direction, about to get angry but paused when she saw Chen Fei.

    "Chen Fei, what''s up?"

    "Time to get up!"

    Chen Fei pointed at the screen of his old cell phone.

    The worn-out screen had been polished so it could be clearly seen again.

    It was 9:00 AM, work time, girl!

    Right next to the runway was one of the loudest ces in the world¡ªand that''s no exaggeration.

    It''s got to be said, this Metallic Dragon sure kept her heart big, choosing such a "great spot." If she were to be awakened by the roar of the "Big Mouth Monster''s" enger, it would definitely not be as simple as "time''s up."

    "You shouldn''t disturb ady''s beauty sleep."

    Having recognized Chen Fei, the female Metallic Dragon Yn rxed again and moved to another patch of grass and cocooned herself with de Wing.

    Chen Fei teased, "I''ve got a new batch of metal here, don''t you want to try it?"

    The ferocious dragon head peeked through the gap in de Wing, staring intently at him.

    "Is it tasty?"

    "Try it and see, it''s free, there''s nothing to lose."

    Chen Fei spread his hands out.

    Young dragons couldn''t resist food at all.

    The Dragon swung her de Wing and with leaves scattered, Yn shouted energetically, "Time to wake up, kissy face!"

    -

 Chapter 83: Section 83 - How Steel Is Made

    ```

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 11/11

    Burst Strength: 10/55

    Fullness: 95%

    Active Time: 110 hours

    Energy Points: 12/5000

    Chen Fei took a moment to nce at the system''s "Individual Information".

    10 Energy Points in hand, but... what''s that good for?

    The cheapest "Physical Evolution Database" on the first page of the "Skill Shop" costs 99 Energy Points, and he was still 87 points short. He had no idea when he would be able to gather enough.

    Arriving at the recycle station, Chen Fei saw a huge rectangr solid made of neatly stacked cardboard boxes with clear edges and corners.

    The repeatedly sifted and cleaned wreckage of the fighter jets had finally been brought here, and they had been violently disassembled. Metals were with metals, stics with stics, and even standard fasteners had been sorted and packed into cardboard boxes.

    Such meticulous work could only be done by the mechanical repair team.

    For others, facing modr assemblyponents, they wouldn''t know where to begin and could only stare nkly.

    Lack of technological skills meant that violent cuts were another matter.

    Disassembled like this, it did save a lot of trouble.

    At least it wasn''t necessary to throw everything into a reaction tank for biological degradation.

    "Eat it directly, or smelt it first?"

    Chen Fei looked toward the eager female Metallic Dragon.

    Applying the philosophy of cuisine to metal smelting, Emmm... he could truly get creative.

    Just take flour as an example, it''s all about creativity!

    "Of course, it''s..." Yn instinctively wanted to choose direct consumption, but before she could speak, she suddenly changed her mind.

    "Of course, it''s to try different alloy forms."

    The taste of different metalpositions would vary, and previously, being preupied with filling their bellies, they seldom had the chance to order such a meal.

    The n Dynasty of Cangqiong Star never indulged the Metallic Dragons they reared, providing food that was only sufficient for warmth and satiation, rarely offering a change in vor.

    In fact, it was already quite good for the juvenile dragons to eat their fill. To dream of a refined diet and achieve Mithril freedom, even if they ruled over the entire Empire of Cangqiong Star, it would still be too much to bear.

    Blue Star''s reserves of Mithril were much richer than those of Cangqiong Star, virtually ubiquitous across the, with traces in every handful of dirt, but the concentration was extremely low, making it difficult to form ore bodies and limiting the output. Smelting was very troublesome, and the cost, while slightly lower than on Cangqiong Star, was still not much lower.

    Blue Star itself didn''t have enough for its own use, struggling to squeeze out a portion for trade with Cangqiong Star each year. How could they afford to feed it to dragons?

    That little bit of trade volume would vanish in just a few bites!

    "Understood!"

    Chen Fei picked up a box of metal parts and poured it directly into the smelting furnace''s feed chute.

    He hadn''t noticed that his strength had inexplicably increased; this box weighed at least forty or fifty pounds, but he handled it easily, without effort.

    "And this box too, I smell the scent of Mithril, it''s not a low concentration."

    The female Metallic Dragon approached the pile of boxes, sniffing each one before deftly picking out the one she wanted with her tail.

    She opened the cardboard lid and after a careful sniff, there it was ¨C she almost drooled on the spot.

    "Mithril? On Blue Star, it''s called ''Titanium,'' and it''s also used in aircraft as a titanium alloy."

    Chen Fei wasn''t surprised that Yn could smell Mithril in the box.

    Titanium is a magic metal on Cangqiong Star, and on Blue Star, it is a high-strength, lightweight specialty material with particr uses, both considered to have extremely high military value as a strategic resource.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft, even being a cheap mass-produced item, still used titanium alloy for some structural parts.

    The so-called "cheap" is only rtive.

    "All of these are aircraft parts?"

    Yn paused, then surveyed the boxes up and down, and said with confusion, "Scrap?"

    Not only did she smell the titanium alloy, but she also detected a smoky, burnt scent.

    Many of theponents'' surfaces bore traces of various degrees of mottling, including some deformed and missing parts.

    Even ayperson could tell that theseponents were scraps,pletely unfit to be installed on an aircraft.

    ```

    "That''s right, all of it!"

    Chen Fei took every cardboard box picked out by the female Metallic Dragon Yn to the feeding trough and poured them in.

    The empty boxes could be reused and were set aside for the time being.

    Yn asked hesitantly, "Can all of these be eaten?"

    Compared to the rough metallic ingots from yesterday, today''s metal parts were of a somewhat higher grade and even contained mithril.

    "Of course, if that''s what you want!" Chen Fei nodded his head.

    The waste sent to the recycling station had no other way to be processed besides breaking down and melting. Even transporting them away required a freight cost, and random disposal would pollute the environment. Regeneration on-site was the best solution, almost as though creating new value out of thin air.

    "I want them, I want them all!" The female Metallic Dragon was both shocked and delighted; a meal containing mithril was definitely not to be missed.

    In the thirty years since she had hatched, Yn could almost count on one hand the number of times she had tasted mithril. And the portions had always been very limited, barely enough to satisfy a craving for a taste.

    Even then, the little mithril she had managed to obtain had been fervently fought over with her peers from the same species.

    A group of young dragons, none willing to back down, would fight each other fiercely¡ªso much so that they might even have thought about killing theirpetitors.

    "Yn, could you help identify the metal materials in the boxes and pick out the excess? Let''s try to umte enough for one or two rough ingots."

    Chen Fei continued to open the cardboard boxes, setting aside the ones with fewer metal materials. He nned to throw them all into the reaction tankter, where after a period of biological degradation, the inorganics and metals would finally be separated.

    "This is too easy!" Yn dly took up Chen Fei''s suggestion, without a hint of refusal.

    She pounced on the pile of boxes, and thanks to the Metallic Dragons'' innate ability to sense metal materials, she could tell how much metal each box contained without even opening them. Moving quickly and efficiently, in no time, she sorted them into two piles, with the majority having more metal substances.

    The automatic feeding smelting furnace glowed with intense heat as the temperature surged.

    All kinds of metal shapes quickly turned red as if they were candle wax, softening and eventually converging into a blob.

    A liquid sphere, glowing like a miniature sun, was suspended in the middle of the furnace under the restraint of a maic field, with the temperature disy reaching 2600 degrees Celsius, fluctuating by less than 10 degrees.

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    As the maic field shifted, the molten liquid metal sphere fell into a crucible and then slowly poured into a mold. After cooling down, it formed the most basic rough ingots.

    If one wanted to reuse these metals, the rough ingots could be processed as raw material. In many ces where high requirements were not necessary, the metal products made from these rough ingots were more than sufficient,pletely up to the task.

    Under the mist of cooling water, the surface of the mold hissed as the steam diffused unremittingly.

    A minuteter, the rough ingot, still hot to the touch, was removed.

    The female Metallic Dragon, Yn, bit into it eagerly.

    "The mithril content can reach at least 60%, plus there''s dark gold."

    The taste of mithril was like cheese, both sweet and savory, while dark gold felt like hazelnuts, both crunchy and fragrant.

    The high temperature of 2600 degrees Celsius in the smelting furnace had not been enough to melt tungsten (with a melting point of 3410 degrees Celsius), so many un-melted tungsten scraps remained inside the rough ingot, giving it a texture like cheese sticks with a nutty heart.

    Every bite was filled with happiness, and the moved Yn felt like crying.

    It wasn''t often that Metallic Dragons had the opportunity to dismantle attack aircraft and re-melt them for a feast.

    ng!

    A half-ingot flew over, crashing heavily in front of Chen Fei.

    The female Metallic Dragon Yn soberly said, "Half for you, half for me!"

    "Ah?"

    Chen Fei stared at the rough ingot at his feet, somewhat stunned, noting the fierce bite marks on it.

    The idea of a Metallic Dragon willingly sharing its food was practically unheard of.

    It was instinctive for creatures to protect their food. Even domestic cats and dogs, if someone dared to touch their current meal, a snap would be the lightest punishment¡ªthe more temperamental ones might turn aggressive and disown you on the spot.

    If even ordinary animals behaved like that, how much more so for the notoriously temperamental and malicious Metallic Dragons? Anyone daring to touch their food would face a relentless fight to the death. That was standard operating procedure.

    Yn, eager to share the delicious meal and her emotions, urged, "Eat it while it''s hot, it''s both fragrant and tender!"

    It seemed she had somewhat forgotten that the one in front of her was a human, not a Metallic Dragon.

    -

 Chapter 84: Section 84 - The System is Toxic

    Frankly, the half chunk of titanium-containing alloy rough ingot was quite tempting to Chen Fei.

    Not sure about its tenderness but it smelled pretty good.

    Chen Fei didn''t have the abilities of the Metallic Giant Dragons, who could identify theposition and approximate content of metal materials just by smell.

    Facing Yn''s enthusiasm, he still hesitated.

    "This doesn''t seem quite right!"

    The female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn, however, said menacingly, "If you don''t eat, it means you''re not giving face, I''ll kill you!"

    No sooner said than done, she was ready to rampage¡ªher straightforwardness was lethal.

    -

    A few people were forcefully heading back to the junkyard.

    Leading with a puffed chest and belly was Takar, the HR manager of Aircrew Base 911, who was saying with a stern face to another persongging half a step behind him, "Sanjani, this is thest time I''m helping you, you should be aware, Chen Fei''s boss, the chief mechanic Xiao Ming, is not easy to mess with. When he gets mad, even Chekhov gets pinned to the ground and beaten up.

    How many hits do you think you can take?"

    The bruised Sanjani pleaded with Takar, hands sped, "Uncle Takar, just help me this once, please, I really can''t swallow this insult. Why should that kid get to make a fortune? That money should be ours."

    Although Takar''s fellow vigers were cheapborers, they were not resigned to watching others eat meat while they could only miserably lick the soup. They might not have much ability, but they certainly weren''tcking in ambition.

    Especially when it came to a rare opportunity for some extra cash, how could these arrogant, low-skilled individuals just stand by and watch a neer, who had been at the Aircrew Base for only a month, snap it up?

    Exactly, snap it up!

    If he didn''t leave the opponent with a face full of mandrake blooms, then all his years of drinking Heng River water had been in vain.

    Thinking that as a middle management staff of the aircrew base, he should not be afraid to handle a newbie who had been on the job for only a month, the fully charged HR manager Takar, apanied by Sanjani and a few other locals had just reached the recycling station, when he saw that female Metallic Giant Dragon violently threatening the young man named Chen Fei.

    "If you don''t eat, it means you''re not giving face, I''ll kill you!"

    Eat what?

    The metal ingot with tooth marks was still lying there on the ground!

    The next second, HR manager Takar turned his head without hesitation and walked away, farewell!

    Eh?!!! Sanjani and the others, confused, quickly followed him.

    "Uncle, uncle, why are you leaving?"

    A big p flew his way.

    Smack!~

    It hit him squarely.

    "Ouch, uncle why are you hitting me?"

    Sanjani covered his face, feeling utterly baffled.

    "Hitting you? Hitting you is the least I could do. Are you blind or deaf?"

    After hurrying out a dozen meters or so, Takar finally slowed down, turned back, and red angrily at these good-for-nothing rascals, truly a disgrace.

    "Ah?"

    Sanjani still hadn''t caught on, continuing to look dazed and confused.

    He felt that the p was somewhat unjust.

    Takar said angrily, "So you guys really want to court death?"

    Being one of the mid-level managers at Aircrew Base, he naturally had some skills, even if not capable, his perceptiveness was definitely notcking.

    "Ah!"

    It suddenly dawned on the foolish ones that there was a Metallic Giant Dragon in the recycling station.

    The frustrated HR manager said, "What ''ah''? Didn''t you hear what that Evil Dragon said? Eat the metal chunks, or she''ll kill you straight away. Dare you?"

    He thought that in a little while, he would have to go collect the bodies of these young people.

    Before, he thought this kid was insensitive, but now it seemed, just a run of bad luck. Ever since he joined, he had faced danger repeatedly, and this time, he seemed to have finally lost his life.

    Takar even felt some pity for the young Chen Fei¡ªit was such a pitiful fate!

    "..."

    Sanjani and his few pals simultaneously turned deathly pale.

    Can humans chew metal blocks like curry puffs just like the Metallic Giant Dragons?

    Whether or not you can bite into it is one thing, but can you digest it after eating it?

    Isn''t this asking for death?

    The key problem is, eating will kill you, not eating will also kill you.

    10,000 star yuan a day is indeed tempting, but you have to be alive to spend it, right!?

    "Uncle, isn''t that kid deceiving us?"

    With a face now featuring a full ''Five Finger Mountain,'' Sanjani grinned, feeling a bit unwilling to give up just like that.

    "I''m not dealing with this matter anymore!"

    Takar hade to try to use his authority to pressure Chen Fei into giving up the lucrative job of guiding the Metallic Giant Dragon to Sanjani, as a favor to his rtive.

    But, while the n sounded nice, the reality was cruel.

    True to the name ''Dragon of ughter,'' it was not easy to deal with at all, posing a life-threatening risk at any moment.

    The HR manager swept away, leaving behind Sanjani and the others exchanging helpless nces, their faces still stinging from the p.

    "Sanjani, what do we do?"

    "Takar isn''t willing to help us."

    "Should we continue?"

    The few underlings had only been unting their imagined prowess, pretending to have strength supported by others. Now without that backing, they immediately became panic-stricken and clueless, revealing their superficial toughness.

    "I refuse to believe that the kid, to curry favor with the Metallic Dragons, really dares to continue acting tough!"

    Sanjani, having unsessfully coaxed supervisor Takar to take their side, was somewhat furious.

    "Hey, Sanjani, don''t do anything rash!"

    "Don''t act impulsively!"

    The few who followed Sanjani hurriedly tried to stop him.

    Previously, this bunch of brothers had been harshly beaten up by Chen Fei and still remembered it vividly.

    They hade thousands of miles to work for money, not to get thrashed.

    "I''ll just take a look!"

    With anger bubbling in his chest, Sanjani was like a man possessed, refusing to let it go.

    He turned back, tiptoeing to the recycling station, determined to find out if that kid was in collusion with the Metallic Dragons, putting on a y just for him to see.

    Bang!

    The second Alloy Ingot fresh out of the mold still had that familiar scent.

    Due to the short melting time and the internal convection movement of the molten metal, the quality of the Alloy Ingot was uneven, with each bite altering theposition slightly.

    Metallic Dragons: Crunch, crunch...

    Chen Fei: Crunch, crunch...

    System: Ding! 67 kilograms of Alloy Body discovered. Would you like to absorb it: Yes/No£ü?

    System: Absorbed 111 grams of Alloy Body,position ratio: Titanium 61%, Aluminum 15%, Iron 13%, Nickel 5%, Molybdenum 2%, Lithium 1%...

    System: Absorbed 97 grams of Alloy Body,position ratio: Titanium 59%, Iron 16%, Aluminum 13%, Nickel 3%, Tungsten 2%, Molybdenum 1%...

    System: Absorbed 101 grams of Alloy Body,position ratio:...

    ...

    Unable to refuse Yn''s generous hospitality, Chen Fei had to reluctantly sit together, each holding half a Metal Ingot and munching away.

    Neither the man nor the dragon found anything unusual.

    But from a distance, the sneakily spying Sanjani looked ashen-faced.

    This isn''t right, not right at all.

    He wanted to burst out and righteously challenge Chen, questioning why he could eat Metal Ingots¡ªit was entirely unscientific.

    Even with Pica, you can''t just treat hard Alloy Ingots like chocte!

    That''s brutal!

    Just being able to bite into them was baffling enough.

    "Sanjani, is that guy still human?"

    "My god, is that a chunk of iron? He bit it right off."

    "Terrifying, truly!!!"

    The few who hade along turned pale, almost mistaking it for two Metallic Dragons at the recycling center.

    Those teeth, that appetite, clearly not human!

    "I don''t know, I don''t know, don''t ask me, I know nothing..."

    The distraught Sanjani sat down with a thump, but the next second he jumped up as if his pants were on fire and started running.

    All thoughts of confronting Chen Fei had vanished in a whiff.

    He had no courage to also grab a piece of metal and gnaw on it.

    "Hey, Sanjani, what''s wrong?"

    "Hurry up, don''t be rash!"

    The few underlings quickly chased after him, soon disappearing without a trace.

    -

    Ding! Devoured 1 ton of metal, earned Energy Points +1, Current Energy Points: 12/5000

    Ding! New mission acquired!

    1. Kill a good person within seventy-two hours to earn Energy Points +100 (Failure toplete on time, death!)

    Bang!~

    The small chunk of Alloy Ingot that Chen Fei had been holding fell to the ground, creating a small crater.

    Damn... this system is toxic!!!

    -

 Chapter 85: Section 85 - Unable to Perceive

    Chen Fei had never imagined, that as an utterly ordinary person, he would develop "pica" in his lifetime.

    Well, let''s just call it "pica," since it involves eating all sorts of things, particrly things that shouldn''t be eaten.

    After all, he wasn''t the only one in the world with "pica." Not to mention eating metals, there were others who ate ss, ceramics, and even soil and gnawed on rocks¡ªvarious nonsensical behaviors, which was why they were collectively termed as "pica."

    In the past, he had been careful and cautious, never daring to be greedy.

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    But now, being urged by the female Metallic Dragon Yn, he had thrown caution to the wind and let himself go with the flow.

    To hell with it, eat first and worryter.

    The taste of metal was surprisingly not bad, and it wasn''t as hard as expected¡ªhe even prepared himself for the possibility that despite the pain, he would not be able to bite through.

    Yet, he easily bit off arge chunk and, marveling at his excellent teeth, Chen Fei thought that the mysterious "My System" would open up a new world for him.

    He never expected that after two novice tasks, another task would suddenly pop up.

    The alloy ingot in his hand suddenly lost its appeal.

    Mr/Miss System, what are you trying to pull?!

    Killing a good person?

    I am a good person, should I justmit suicide?!

    Damn it!

    Detecting Chen Fei''s odd behavior, the blissfully munching female Metallic Dragon Yn looked over in confusion and said, "Why have you stopped eating? Are you full?"

    "Ah..." Chen Fei was momentarily stunned, then regained hisposure and nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, I''m full!"

    He had indeed lost his appetite because of the sudden system task.

    Swoosh!~

    The half-piece of alloy ingot that fell to the ground was swiftly coiled up by a flexible Dragon''s Tail; the next second, itnded in Yn''s massive mouth with fangs, munching and mumbling, "Can''t waste food!"

    ng, ng, ng... it wasn''t Chen Fei''s system making a racket, but Xiao Jiu, the mischievous little creature, pecking around.

    Having seen its dad enjoying something tasty, it too wanted a taste.

    The Pure Light Sparrow, even as a Magical Beast in bird form, who only feasted on chick feed pellets and live mealworms,cked the robust teeth of Chen Fei and Yn and couldn''t peck through the metal¡ªapart from producing a series of crisp, pleasant sounds, it made not a single mark.

    "Chen Fei, uh! Can''t finish it, can I take it away? Uh!~"

    The female Metallic Dragon, belching contentedly, emitted satisfied groans. After two days of feasting onrge chunks, it finally reached a point where it couldn''t nibble anymore.

    ©d(¨R¨Œ¨Q*)o Total satisfaction!

    At least the wreckage of seven battle aircraft, after beingpletely disassembled, was packed into cardboard boxes and neatly arranged at the recycling station.

    A rotten boat still has three pounds of nails, let alone a battle aircraft.

    Even as wrecks, the metallic materials could ount for at least three-quarters of their weight, with each aircraft yielding at least two tons of metal.

    Aside from a portion that needed to be thrown into the reaction vessel for biodegradation, the rest were stewed by Chen Fei in the smelting furnace.

    Rows of steaming fresh alloy ingots came out of the furnace, adding up to more than ten tons. Yn, after all, just a thirty-year-old young dragon, was starting to feel overstuffed.

    "If you can carry them away, you''re free to take these rough ingots."

    Chen Fei didn''t mind at all that Yn was both eating and taking.

    The alloy ingots didn''t have a wide range of applications and could only be used in low-demand situations; they weren''t worth much and even the cost of transporting them could not be justified.

    Recycled products weren''t ounted for, so whether they were all eaten or taken away, nobody cared about their whereabouts. After some time, the recycling station at the Aircrew Base would umte new ingots. The reason for using reaction vessels and smelting furnaces was simply for environmental and waste management purposes, to prevent pollution and save space.

    -

    The investigation by Clodia, the Psychic Illusion Dragon, soon reached Chen Fei, who hung around the female Metallic Dragon Yn, and he was moved to the end of the list. The mission of the foreign delegation from Sky Dragon City was about to bepleted.

    Compared with the psychological counselors hastily sent by the Apocalypse Defense Group to 911 Aircrew Base for preliminary screening, the Illusion Dragon''s methods were clearly much more sophisticated.

    ```

    Even the most resilient hardliners crumble before the powerful psychic Illusion Dragon, utterlycking any resistance.

    Whether they speak out or confess, those things are unimportant, even unnecessary.

    The Illusion Dragon''s targeted memory search is all-epassing, including emotional fluctuations, allowing the truth to reemerge intact within the innate abilities of the Psychic Dragon.

    Once memories form, they are difficult to alter, and even self-hypnosis or self-deception cannot fool the keen insight of the Psychic Dragon.

    When the Extraterrestrial Races invaded Cangqiong Star, the Psychic Illusion Dragon, as a member of the Dragon n, although not the main fighting force in the forefront of the battlefield, extracted crucial intelligence from these Aliens and could even urately identify deeply hidden extraterrestrial Parasites.

    Illusion Dragon Clodia looked down at the young man before her and said, "Human, you remind me of Yn."

    Its psychic power was nullified, meaning it was unable to read Chen Fei''s memory.

    "Has there been some kind of ident?"

    The female executive manager had been closely monitoring the whole process and had not missed a single person.

    "I cannot sense his psychic power,"

    the Psychic Illusion Dragon shook its head.

    Despite Chen Fei standing right in front of it, just like the female Metallic Dragon Yn, there were absolutely no psychic power fluctuations.

    The only source of psychic power fluctuations came from the Little Bird hopping on the other''s shoulder.

    "Jiu!~"

    The Magical Beast Pure Light Sparrow, not even reaching the First Rank of Human Order, had nothing noteworthy about it.

    Manager Hanna Gagel slightly frowned, pondered for a moment, and spected, "Perhaps it''s due to the Supernatural Ability Suppressant."

    Supernatural powers include the Wind Series, Fire System, Metallic, etc., and naturally include the Psychic Series. The categorization of supernatural power types on Blue Star is basically consistent with that on Cangqiong Star: ten systems of Magic (excluding Metallic), ten systems of Battle Qi (excluding Metallic), and eleven systems of Special Abilities.

    The Supernatural Ability Suppressants on Blue Star are broad-spectrum functional suppressants capable of effectively suppressing all supernatural powers, and might even suppress psychic power fluctuations, making the Psychic Dragon from Sky Dragon City unable to sense psychic power and therefore unable to use it as a bridge to search Chen Fei''s memory.

    Manager Hanna summoned an underling, whispered a few words, and the underling hurried away, soon returning with an object in hand.

    That object resembled a frame-like helmet with a small LCD screen attached.

    After receiving it, Hanna Gagel ced it directly onto Chen Fei''s head.

    Beep!~

    The frame-like helmet emitted an electronic sound.

    "Psychic power 2.1 degrees, Chen Fei, it seems you were at 0.9 degrees before you joined thepany."

    Hanna Gagel, as the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, was not unprepared, having all of the personal information of each employee memorized.

    "Ah! Yes!"

    Chen Fei nodded, recognizing the device on his head.

    The Psychic Power Strength Detector, which ismonly used for physical examinations, everyone had it ced on their head during university check-ups every year, and in just two seconds, it could determine the intensity index of the psychic power fluctuations, and more advanced ones could even differentiate wave patterns.

    Each person''s psychic power wave pattern is unique, with the probability of simrity far lower than that of fingerprints. In some special fields, psychic wave pattern characteristics are even used as identification keys, ensuring high security.

    "It must be your awakening of a Special Ability that has increased your psychic power strength,"

    Hanna Gagel said as she removed the Psychic Power Strength Detector from Chen Fei and handed it back to her subordinate.

    The psychic power strength of ordinary people is between 0.6 to 1.5 degrees, rted to willpower, focus, and the amplitude of psychic wave patterns¡ªsupernatural power users generally have higher psychic power strength than ordinary people.

    Following Chen Fei''s awakening of Metal Elemental Psychic Power, his psychic strength increased from 0.9 to 2.1, which ispletely normal.

    Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia expressed her confusion, "What''s going on here?"

    She clearly couldn''t sense anything, yet the device detected it instantly.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 86: Section 86 - Gifts Between Friends

    "The detection methods differ. You detect by directly sensing with spiritual power, whereas my method involves analyzing brainwave activity, localized bioelectrical responses in the brain tissue, in conjunction with specific mathematical models and technical means, to produce aposite quantified result.

    The Supernatural Ability Suppressant is like a wall that blocks the dissemination of his spirit, but it doesn''t prevent the instrument''s detection and calction."

    Hanna Gagel did not exin in detail the principles behind Supernatural Ability Suppressants. The formtion and principles of this functional potion are still in a strict confidentiality stage to prevent misuse by those with ulterior motives.

    Many criminals with special abilities on Blue Star still require this widely applicable suppressant for effective control.

    "Science?!"

    Clodia nodded her massive head in understanding of the situation.

    It turned out she had approached the matter incorrectly. Humans are not Metallic Dragons, so how could theyck spiritual power?

    The young human''s spiritual power had not disappeared, it was still there, merely obscured by the effects of the medicine. Unable to catch the fluctuations of spirit, even the Illusion Dragon''s proud innate ability was as useless as a cook without rice.

    The Dragon n''s understanding of technology, even with the entire Metallic Dragons undergoing technological transformation and collectively upgrading to digital dragons, still fell short of that of the indigenous Intelligent Species of Blue Star, who had interwoven technology throughout every corner of their world.

    The exchange between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star had been going on for thirty years. Although each influenced the other, the directions of their civilizations'' development had distinct characteristics. These differences actually gave rise to the sustainability and necessity of their exchange.

    The collision between civilizations does not always necessitate war; the sh of ideas and technology can also spark the dazzling light of wisdom.

    Hanna Gagel tentatively asked, "So does that mean Chen Fei must wait for the Supernatural Ability Suppressant to wear off before another investigation can be conducted? There should still be half a month left of its effect."

    She did not think there was anything wrong with Chen Fei, the neer.

    He had been brought to the International Medical Ship in a mangled state and barely saved, with hardly any opportunities to act.

    If thepany had not, out of humanitarianism, used a valued magic potion to restore him back to health, even if he had survived, he would be a powerless and immobile invalid.

    To lose one''s ability to work at such a young age and live a life worse than death, it might have been better to have died altogether.

    "No need, I have already finished the investigation!"

    Unexpectedly, Clodia shook her head.

    "Ah?"

    Hanna Gagel couldn''t help but widen her eyes in surprise.

    "This Pure Light Sparrow allows me to see many things."

    The gaze of the Psychic Illusion Dragonnded on Chen Fei''s shoulder.

    Who said one must focus spiritual perception only on oneself? There are other eyes by his side.

    Chen Fei turned his head and nced at Little Bird hopping around obliviously.

    You little treacherous snitch!

    "Jiu!~"

    Xiao Jiu affectionately pecked at Daddy''s earlobe.

    It waspletely unaware that its memories had been scrutinized by the Psychic Dragon not far away.

    As the next person stood before the Psychic Illusion Dragon Clodia, Chen Fei''s doubts grew, and he could no longer hold back, voicing his own questions.

    "Manager Hanna, what exactly is thepany and the dragons investigating?"

    Prior to this, the psychological counselor had clearly been acting strange.

    This visit from the Sky Dragon City diplomatic mission from Cangqiong Star was even more off.

    Why must they repeatedly check everyone''s memories, refusing to spare even personal privacies?

    Not just Chen Fei, but everyone at Aircrew Base 911 felt that something was not right; however, out of fear of the domineering manner of the One-Eyedy, as well as the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron crashing headlong into the enemy''s muzzles, receiving a severe round of intimidation, nobody dared to raise such a tant question.

    Only Chen Fei, a brazen neer unafraid of "tigers," would ask so directly to her face.

    "That ispany confidential, not to be inquired into by anyone."

    The female executive manager''s face hardened, her expression noticeably displeased.

    Thepany''s decisions are to be followed. Thinking anything extra is unnecessary.

    "Uh¡­ okay then!"

    ```

    Chen Fei became increasingly convinced there was a problem here.

    But seeing Manager Hanna''s attitude and expression, with warnings both overt and covert, he guessed that the personal reasons were probably not that simple.

    "Don''t ask any more questions!"

    A fan-sizedrge hand pressed onto Chen Fei''s head as the calm mechanic chief Xiao Ming made eye contact with Hanna Gagel.

    The message conveyed in his eyes was unmistakable.

    This is my man; if you have any issues,e at me!

    The people lined up behind Chen Fei were quickly investigated and it didn''t take Clodia much time. It turned its gaze to the female executive manager, who had been overseeing the whole process.

    "Is there anyone left?"

    "No more!"

    Hanna Gagel held a list; after investigating each person, the Psychic Illusion Dragon would mark a check next to their name.

    Now those checks had reached thest person on the list.

    Fortunately, neither the psychological counselor earlier, nor the Psychic Illusion Dragon now, had detected any sign of disloyalty--the loyalty and professional ethics of everyone at the Aircrew Base werepletely beyond doubt.

    Such a team was reassuring.

    "The investigation is over; let''s return to Sky Dragon City!"

    The Psychic Dragon Clodia didn''t hesitate for a moment.

    The suspicion concerning Aircrew Base was dismissed¡ªit seemed the problem wasn''t here.

    If someone had hidden Bit''s Heart Core somewhere, as a fellow metallic dragon, Yn would surely have noticed. But so far, this female Metallic Dragon had not discovered anything either.

    If the people were clear, and the base was clear, then that equated to no problems at all.

    Finding the Metallic Dragon Bit''s Heart Core would likely require looking into other areas.

    Hanna Gagel didn''t expect that as soon as the investigation finished, they would leave immediately, but then she thought that this ce, with its rugged mountains and rivers, really had no scenic views or local products worth lingering for.

    The other party was a giant dragon, with no interest whatsoever in sightseeing, so why stay after finishing the business at hand?

    For sure, Aircrew Base could not be morefortable than Sky Dragon City.

    However, out of courtesy, the executive manager had some gifts prepared to give to the two dragons and the four Dragon Knights from the Cangqiong Star Sn Dynasty.

    Apart from the alloy ingot specifically for the female Metallic Dragon Yn, the other gifts were mainly local specialties from Blue Star, thetest technological products, and some particrly tasty snacks.

    For this reason, the Apocalypse Defense Group had a special aircraft make a temporary trip to get everything ready.

    The rune patterns on the Deflector Magical Instruments, nted on the grass near the main runway, lit up one after another, lifting off the ground and converging together, forming a giant umbre that spanned across the sky and slowly began to rotate in mid-air.

    Before leaving, the female Metallic Dragon Yn felt somewhat reluctant to leave Chen Fei, since he had treated her to a feast and she had eaten to her fill¡ªan opportunity that did note by often.

    Yn had harbored a slight fantasy upon arrival, but now, the person she found agreeable could not be her Dragon Rider, which she regretted as she said, "Chen Fei, I''m leaving. It''s a pity you can eat metal too. If you became my Dragon Rider, we would surely end up fighting, which isn''t good. I don''t want to fight you, and you probably don''t want to fight me either."

    "No need, no need, things are fine as they are. We''re friends," replied Chen Fei, sweating profusely, not daring to entertain the thought.

    Let alone the fact that the Dragon n had long ceased to recognize new Dragon Riders and had destroyed all the Dragon Flutes, turning all the trainees selected to be Dragon Riders into Sky Knights. Even if they made an exception and allowed a special case, the survival odds of bing the Dragon of ughter''s partner were about the same as winning a jackpot in a lottery.

    The jackpot had already been won; purchasing such a "lottery ticket" now would be nothing short of a dead end, wouldn''t it?

    Even if Yn was entirely willing, Chen Fei was not!

    There''s a saying that goes, "Cherish life, stay away from Metallic Dragons."

    "Right, we''re friends!"

    The female Metallic Dragon nodded vigorously, poking her own body with her tail and extracting something that emitted a soft white light, about the size of Chen Fei''s fist, and pushed it towards him.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 87: Section 87 - Returning Rites

    "Gemstone?"

    Chen Fei looked at the shiny object in front of him, somewhat dazed.

    Not far away, Executive Manager Hanna Gagar couldn''t help but widen her eyes; she felt her blood pressure rising, and her breathing became rapid.

    She had never expected that this neer, who had only joined thepany a little over a month ago, would be able to get along so well with the Metallic Dragons in just two to three days, even calling each other friends.

    The female Metallic Dragon, as if under the influence of some mesmerizing potion, had given away such a precious thing.

    "This is a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, prepared for your Little Bird. Clodia said you have spiritual power, so establish a contract with it as soon as possible. This crystal core can help the Pure Light Sparrow advance its bloodline.

    On Cangqiong Star, as long as it''s a Magical Beast, no matter how weak, if you trace back their bloodline, their ancestors were almost all quite formidable. If your luck is good enough, even a First Rank Pure Light Sparrow could be a great pet."

    Yn, being a Metallic Dragon, did not possess spiritual power and could not use storage magical devices that required spiritual power to operate. But it could reserve some cavities within its own body to store objects that were not toorge.

    Therger the Metallic Dragon''s body, the more it could store.

    "This is too valuable, I can''t ept it."

    Chen Fei immediately waved his hand. He had once used a First Order magic potion, not only did it save his life, but he also recoveredpletely.

    But even therge bonus given by thepany could not entirely offset the potion''s internal staff cost price, and his original debt had increased by a considerable amount.

    He was very aware that anything rted to the "Order" level of magic had never been cheap.

    Magical Beast Crystal Cores and the special mineral Demon Crystals were both specialties of Cangqiong Star. The former was the condensed core of a Magical Beast''s Magic Elements, while thetter was the natural product of Magic Elements condensing. The higher the level of either, the purer their substance, representing a high degree of crystallized element enrichment.

    Just like Mithril on Blue Star, Cangqiong Star''s Magical Beast Crystal Cores and mineral Demon Crystals were also very scarce resources. What one had was hardly enough for oneself, so the amount that could be offered for trade was never considerable.

    A Human Order Magical Beast Crystal Core was already rare, not to mention those of Earth Order.

    Chen Fei could imagine how hot the Third Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core that Yn handed to him felt in his hands.

    As if attracted by the energy of the Light Elemental within the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, the Pure Light Sparrow "Xiao Jiu" on Chen Fei''s shoulder wanted to fly towards it but seemed too afraid to do so, circling indecisively.

    "What I give you, you take with confidence. Whoever dares to steal it will make an enemy of the Dragon n."

    The tail of the female Metallic Dragon directly pushed the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core against Chen Fei''s chest, causing him to stagger backward.

    He had to ept it whether he wanted to or not.

    Yn''s words were firm, and she had even resolved any potential troubles that might arise after the crystal core hade into Chen Fei''s possession.

    Those with ulterior motives wouldn''t even have the guts to make an enemy of the Dragon n, not to mention catch the attention of a Metallic Dragon, which would likely leave no one able to sleep soundly at night.

    "Then... I have no choice but to take it. I''m truly sorry, but I don''t have anything suitable to offer in return."

    Chen Fei could only ept the precious Magical Beast Crystal Core. He himself was very poor, unable to procure any proper gifts.

    Once the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core was in Chen Fei''s hands, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu immediately dove over without any hesitation, its petite beak gently pecking the surface of the crystal core. Each peck sparked off tiny glimmers of light, which, instead of fading away, seemed to be drawn in by some attractive force, disappearing entirely into Xiao Jiu''s body.

    The executive manager who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between Chen Fei and Yn raised an eyebrow, as if about to say something.

    But then, Chef Abel from the base canteen came over, gripping Chen Fei''s shoulder with courage and said, "There is a gift, and it''s definitely a surprise."

    "Hey! Mr. Abel, you..."

    Chen Fei was startled; Yn was not as easy to talk to with others as she was with him.

    "Just a moment, I''ll be right back."

    Chef Abel turned and ran off without hesitation, thumping quickly into the distance.

    It was hard to imagine that a middle-aged, portly, greasy uncle could run so fast, perhaps leaving behind the shadow of a clumsy escape.

    "Actually, it''s okay if you don''t have one, I won''t mind!"

    If you ignored appearances, Yn''s voice sounded quite cute.

    But she didn''t seem angry, which made Chen Fei breathe a sigh of relief. He quickly apologized on behalf of the chef''s impulsive behavior, fearing Yn would bear a grudge since Metallic Dragons were notoriously petty.

    "Never mind about Mr. Abel, he''s not a bad person!"

    "No problem, for the sake of friendship, I''ll give this face."

    Maybe it was because she finally got to eat her fill and even take away leftovers, the female Metallic Dragon was incredibly good-tempered for once.

    Otherwise, at another time, she might have been like: I''m starving, don''t mess with me!

    Or she might have simply swatted someone with her paw, which would have already been considered polite.

    Chef Abel left quickly, and he returned just as fast.

    It didn''t take long before he came running back, giddy with excitement¡ªthe gall of this one was certainly extraordinary!

    It seemed his earlier action wasn''t just a spur-of-the-moment thing.

    "Little Chen, give this to her!"Chef Abel returned, panting from the run, and thrust something he had carried all the way into Chen Fei''s hands.

    It was arge frying pan with a single handle, roughly 34 centimeters in diameter, with its inner surface ck and shiny as if coated with ayer of ck piano paint, glistening in the sunlight.

    If I''m not mistaken, it must be the chef''s family heirloom, a divine artifact used especially for cooking up small dishes, the kind that could be handed down through ten generations¡ªwhen a man dies, the pan remains.

    "A titanium pan?"

    "A mithril pan?"

    Chen Fei and Yn recognized it at the same time, though they each had a different name for it; they were both referring to the same item.

    "Mr. Abel, this is your¡­"

    Chen Fei hadn''t even said the words "family heirloom" when Chef Abel nonchntly waved his hand.

    "Just a pan. I can buy another er. 4,000 Star Yuan, I''ll put it on your tab, no rush to pay it back."

    Credit where credit is due, Chef Abel''s quick help in a tight situation had truly saved Chen Fei from an urgent problem.

    A pure titanium pan could buy twenty brand-name iron pans from a big factory, or even four hundred cheaper, tin ones¡ªit could be worth even more.

    Pans, as objects, don''t make much difference as long as they don''t contain toxic substances like heavy metals. Whether they are good or not is all about the skill of the person using them; all that nonsense about non-stick coatings is just baloney and can''tpare to the usefulness of a chunk of fatty pork.

    "This is my return gift."

    Chen Fei thought about it, and it made sense. On Cangqiong Star, what was known as mithril was titanium, and there was no shortage of it on Blue Star, even used for high-end civilian products, albeit at a steep price. But it was certainly easier to obtain than on Cangqiong Star¡ªanyone using mithril for a frying pan would have to be out of their mind.

    For Metallic Dragons, as a reciprocation for a third-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core, it was quite appropriate.

    Chen Fei''s hand suddenly felt empty as the 34-centimeter titanium pan instantly appeared on Yn''s tail¡ªthis female Metallic Dragon eximed in surprise and delight, "Chen Fei, thank you for your gift, I really like it."

    In the eyes of Metallic Dragons, a third-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core probably wasn''t as valuable as this mithril pan.

    "I''m d you like it."

    Chen Fei gave a sigh of relief and looked gratefully at Chef Abel¡ªwho had been a huge help.

    "Hehehe¡­"

    Chef Abel gave Chen Fei a thumbs-up, pleased to have been able to help.

    Birds of a feather, flock together.

    "Yn, we''re leaving!"

    The voice of Illusion Dragon Clodia, urging her to hurry, reached them.

    The four Sky Knights of the n Dynasty had already gathered around the Illusion Dragon.

    "Coming,ing!"

    The 34-centimeter titanium pan wound around the tip of Yn''s tail looked like a giant lollipop.

    Slurp¡­

    Even Chen Fei couldn''t help but feel a bit of appetite.

    Seeing the "lollipop" on Yn''s tail, Clodia asked curiously, "What are you carrying?"

    "Mithril!"

    The female Metallic Dragon showed off, passing it to the Psychic Illusion Dragon for a closer look.

    "Such a waste of treasures!"

    The Psychic Illusion Dragon, Clodia, looked unimpressed.

    But the four Human Race Sky Knights'' eyes lit up at the sight; this local specialty was indeed appealing.

    Mithril was a valuablemodity, coveted by anyone.

    -

 Chapter 88 : Section 88 - Asking Price

    ```

    The sky suddenly darkened as twelve deflector magical instruments simultaneously enveloped the two giant dragons and the four "Sky Falcons," wrapping them inside.

    The merged giant conical deflector magical instrument slowly rotated as it took off, its ascending speed getting faster and faster. When it appeared as a mere speck to the people on the ground, it suddenly elerated.

    The explosive sound of the air barrier being broken was like deafening thunder. In an instant, the conical deflector magical instrument shot straight into the sky, disappearing from everyone''s view and bursting into the ionosphere. It was then engulfed again by the scorching sma, bing a retrograde fire meteor, quickly breaking free from the''s gravity to enter a near-Earth orbit.

    "Cybertrom! Cangqiong Star 2***-002 returning diplomatic mission, the ess list has been submitted, requesting verification."

    As it slowly approached the gigantic digital intelligence construct in a higher orbit, the flowing numerals and symbols in the pupils of the female Metallic Dragon Yn inside the conical deflector magical instrument authenticated the diplomatic mission.

    "This is Cybertrom, conforming to application process, initiating manual approval¡­ Approval granted, preparing to establish a diplomatic green channel... Cangqiong Star 2***-002 returning diplomatic mission, the diplomatic green channel will open in approximately 37 minutes, sequence number 19, with a time limit of 15 minutes.

    Please enter the standby area to queue and start nning the flight path."

    A beam of light shot forth,nding in front of the conical deflector magical instrument, projecting a dynamic flight trajectory that led directly into the waiting area.

    At the end of the flight trajectory, several transport airships of various sizes awaited their turn to enter Cybertrom''s Dimensional Gate.

    The Dimensional Gate secured with Longinus as the space key is not a unique feature of Cybertrom on the near-Earth orbit.

    In fact, on the surface of Blue Star, there are several smaller Dimensional Gates directly connected to the surface of Cangqiong Star, but these gates cannot match the scale of Cybertrom''s massive portal; their responsibility is not the transportation of personnel and materials, but maintaining the frequent and close data linkage tasks between the twos.

    Every second, massive amounts of digital information flow between Cangqiong Star and Blue Star via many Longinus keys, keeping themunication between the twos smooth. Scientists have never ceased to optimize and enhance the transmission efficiency and bandwidth of the Longinus space key ports to keep up with the expandingworkmunication demands of the twos.

    The conical deflector magical instrument, matching the speed of the digital intelligence construct, carried the two giant dragons, four Sky Knights, and their fourth-generation "Sky Falcons" along the projected flight path, elerating into the queue in preparation for flying toward the Dimensional Gate''s waiting area.

    ...

    -

    The diplomatic mission from Sky Dragon City of Cangqiong Star departed.

    Chen Fei appeared somewhat dejected as he watched the conical deflector magical instrument vanish into the sky.

    "Why? Are you disappointed because you didn''t be a Dragon Knight? Cheer up, these things are all down to fate. There''s a saying that goes, ''What''s meant for you wille eventually; don''t force what''s not destined.'' This weekend I''ll take you hunting, have a good time, and then you''ll forget all your troubles!"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, walked over and pped Chen Fei on the back carelessly.

    The man was rough and his words were crass, leaving one utterly speechless.

    "It''s not because of that!"

    Chen Fei had never even considered bing any damn Dragon Knight, in fact, he wisely kept his distance knowing his own limitations.

    "Eh?!" Chekhov Big Bear looked confused and said, "You seem pretty unhappy, what''s there to be unhappy about? Share with us so we can have a goodugh!"

    "I''ve got a problem!"

    Chen Fei shook his head in annoyance, this Big Bear really had no idea how to console someone, his few words were aggravating enough to make one want to hit him.

    Big Brother Xiao didn''t hit him hard enough!

    "No problem, leave it to me, Chekhov. Tell me, how can I help you?" Chekhov smacked his chest with a loud thump and added, "Let me say upfront, you still owe me the original model AK-47, you''re not getting out of that. Better rece my gun, I''m not looking to swindle any money from you."

    "I have a mission; I must kill a good person within 56 hours, or I''ll die."

    Chen Fei looked seriously at Big Bear.

    Comrade Chekhov, your time to help hase.

    "Ptooey!"

    Comrade Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov spat on the ground without hesitation and said resentfully, "Do I look like a good person? My mom always told me, eat your food and do your work; I can''t help you with this. Go find someone else! Farewell!" And with that, he turned and left without a second thought.

    Son of a turtle!

    Chen Fei raised his middle finger at the retreating figure.

    But Big Bear was right; he really wasn''t a good person.

    He had to figure it out himself; Chen Fei sighed and once again became gloomy.

    Manager Hanna Gagel of the Aircrew Base 911 watched the parting of Squadron Leader Chekhov and Chen Fei. It was clear to see how much the rookie detested his squadron leader.

    ```

    She walked over and said, "It seems you don''t get along with Chekhov. Do you want me to transfer you out of the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron and give you a part-time job? The work at the control tower isn''t bad either, and the ie is guaranteed."

    "Thank you, Manager Hanna, for your concern, but... no thanks." Chen Fei shook his head. "The sry of a ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron pilot is basically at the top level at 911 Aircrew Base, other than a few senior managers. With how envious Takar and his fellow countrymen are, they still haven''t managed to arrange for people to join."

    Unless Chen Fei became the big boss of the control tower, he''d rather just be a content pilot, taking his base sry and mission bonuses. His work didn''t conflict with the maintenance team''s duties; in fact, it was a perfect match.

    "All right then, I want to talk to you about another matter."

    As Hanna Gagar was about to speak, Chen Fei interrupted her.

    "Sorry, I''m not selling!"

    Chen Fei had already noticed her nce asionally falling on the Magical Beast Crystal Core in his hand.

    Those who graduated from the Ivory Tower, the new generation university students, were no fools. Even those with a slightly lower IQ didn''t have the right to touch the college entrance exam papers and were streamed out directly in their second year of high school.

    Everyone would have their eyes on a Third Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core.

    The warnings of the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn shielded Chen Fei from those despicable tactics, but they were useless against open and legitimate schemes.

    "10 million Star Yuan!"

    The executive manager named a figure.

    That''s right, just paying cash. One was willing to sell, the other was willing to buy, a mutually agreeable transaction. Even Sky Dragon City could hardly say anything about it.

    That price was enough to instantly clear all of Chen Fei''s debts and leave him with a significant surplus, turning him from a millionaire debtor into a real millionaire.

    "Not selling!"

    Chen Fei was even more resolute.

    The First Rank magic potion "Life Resuscitation" that Apocalypse Defense Group used on him was priced at 12 million Star Yuan, yet they only offered 10 million Star Yuan for a Third Rank Light Beast Crystal Core. This was the tant face of a capitalist.

    "20 million Star Yuan!"

    Hanna Gagar doubled her offer without hesitation.

    "..."

    Chen Fei admitted he was involuntarily tempted, if just for a moment.

    20 million Star Yuan could not only clear his debts but also turn him into a multimillionaire, and even if he stopped working, he could livefortably for the rest of his life.

    Ding ding ding ding

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu continued to peck tirelessly at the Light Beast Crystal Core, striving to absorb and activate the light element energy by instinct.

    The executive manager watched him.

    "Not selling!"

    Chen Fei shook his head with difficulty, turning and walking away without hesitation.

    Given the pattern of her offers, the next offer might well reach 40 million Star Yuan. Even if it was just 30 million Star Yuan, he couldn''t guarantee he''d have the willpower to continue rejecting such arge sum of money.

    The Magical Beast Crystal Core was left by Yn specifically for Xiao Jiu. He had to stay strong for his little one!

    Once Xiao Jiu finished absorbing the Light Beast Crystal Core, and the quantitative change reached a qualitative transformation, some unexpected changes might ur.

    Watching Chen Fei''s retreating figure in disarray, Hanna Gagar wore a look of regret.

    Returning to her office, she picked up the phone and personally reported the investigation of the Sky Dragon City diplomatic mission to the Apocalypse Defense Group headquarters.

    With the situation having developed to this stage, the Apocalypse Defense Group could be said to have sessfully held onto the major part of the benefits from the Metallic Dragon remains.

    However, no one could find the missing Heart Core, preventing them from achieving a perfect result and leaving some regrets on this harvest.

    -

 Chapter 89 : Section 89 - Corporate Warfare

    Putting down the phone, Hanna Gagel did not feel the relief that usually came afterpleting a task. Instead, her face was etched with seriousness.

    After pondering for a moment, she picked up the phone again and dialed an internal base extension.

    "Notify all mid-level and above managers to meet in the pilots'' dormitory conference room."

    Five minutester, the heads of various departments from the Aircrew Base hurried to the three-story building next to the hangar, where the pilots'' dormitories were located.

    There was a small conference room inside, now borrowed by Executive Manager Hanna Gagel. The heads of the tower, human resources, maintenance,bat flight squadron, security, radar, and ground services departments arrived one after another. They took their seats around the conference table.

    Their numbers were no more than the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, so there were just enough chairs for everyone.

    Once everyone had arrived, the female executive manager did not engage in much small talk but went straight to the point. "The diplomatic envoy from Sky Dragon City has just left, and I have reported the investigation process to the headquarters."

    "Manager Hanna, there shouldn''t be any problems here now, should there?" asked Takar, the head of human resources.

    Takar was increasingly baffled by the recent developments, but what he was more worried about was the possibility of Sky Dragon City seeking retribution against Aircrew Base 911.

    After all, the Metallic Dragon Bit who had been killed was a member of the Dragon n, and Takar feared that other dragons would seek vengeance for their kin. If that happened, no one at the base would likely survive, and Takar had no desire to be implicated.

    "The situation has be clear enough to dessify some information," the executive manager exined. "There''s no need to worry, Director Takar. The order to kill the Metallic Dragon Bit came from Sky Dragon City itself, conveyed through the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee."

    Atst, some confidential information could be disclosed, preventing others from specting wildly.

    "Ah!?" eximed Takar, the human resources director,pletely startled by the answer.

    With a solemn expression, Hanna Gagel said, "There''s one more important matter. I need all of you to be prepared, including being mentally ready for what''s toe."

    At that moment, the atmosphere in the small conference room turned palpably heavy. Everyone instinctively straightened their spines, sitting up attentively.

    "The contractor for Aircrew Base 897, Stark International Defense Company, recently dered insolvency and is preparing to file for bankruptcy. The industry''s eighth-ranked powerhouse, Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, subsequentlyunched a takeover offer.

    ording to insider information, should the acquisition seed, Meman Brothers United is very likely to initiate corporate warfare against our Apocalypse Defense Group. This is also one of the conditions of Stark International Defense''s agreement to be acquired."

    Before Hanna Gagel could finish speaking, a short electronic tone sounded from her.

    She took out her cell phone, quickly nced at the screen, then looked up and surveyed the room. "I just received a message," she said with a grave voice. "Meman Brothers United has secured Aircrew Base 897 and Stark International Defense for a single Star Yuan in a bundled transfer.

    Both parties have signed the acquisition agreement, and the Global United Defense Committee has concurrently approved the corporate war. Ladies and gentlemen, the war has begun."

    The conference room fell into a deathly silence.

    The next second, it was as if cold water had been thrown into a hot oil pan sending up plumes of smoke¡ªthe room erupted into chaos, with some even standing up in disbelief, looking towards the executive manager.

    "How, how could it happen so fast?"

    "Are we going to go to war immediately? How could the Joint Defense Committee possibly approve such a thing? It''spletely absurd."

    "It''s not fair. Apocalypse Defense hasn''t offended Meman Brothers United!"

    "That''s the eighth-ranked military contractor powerhouse, and our Apocalypse Defense Group is ranked twenty-seventh. They''re bullying us too much."

    "What''s there to fear? Let''s fight! We used to fight mutants and magical beasts, now we''re fighting people. What''s the difference?"

    "Don''t just think about fighting all the time. We should quickly try to negotiate. We''re all here to make money. Goodwill is the best wealth, so why go through hardship for nothing? Let''s sit down and talk. If there are conflicts, let''s set them aside for the moment!"

    In the conference room, some were panic-stricken, some furious, some eager to fight, and some took the opportunity to vent their frustrations. It was as chaotic as a marketce, but no one maintained their earlierposure.

    In Blue Star''s military contracting industry, the top ten are behemoth giants, even capable of taking on some of the sovereign military defense tasks of the lower-ranked.

    Those ranked eleventh to thirtieth are considered major military contractors. The Apocalypse Defense Group, ranked twenty-seventh, is among them but rtively low in the hierarchy. There was no way they could bepared to the top ten giant military contractors.

    No matter whether it''s hard power or soft power, from aprehensive assessment, ten Apocalypse Defense Groups would not be a match for the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium.

    The Stark International Defense Company, which contracted Aircrew Base 897, couldn''t even rank in the top one hundred of the industry. The Apocalypse Defense Group''s retaliatory action was decisive¡ªbullying such a weak opponent without any hesitation or psychological burden.

    A single surprise assault nearly leveled the entire base, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy to the point of near bankruptcy, rendering them unable to continue.

    But in any industry, it''s a big fish eats little fish game. Yesterday Apocalypse ate Stark International, today Meman Brothers United is looking to devour Apocalypse. Under the cruelw of the jungle, no one escapes.

    For behemoths like the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, which neitherck money nor personnel, nor equipment, and have deep foundations, even if one or two bases were destroyed, it would still be far from the point of a crippling blow.

    "Be quiet!"

    The female executive manager uttered themand, and the bubbling meeting room instantly fell silent.

    Even Major Chekhov, the squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, who still wanted to shout something, obediently shut his mouth.

    "Since it has already happened, everyone, please face reality! If anyone wants to desert, you can leave the meeting room now."

    Hanna Gagel''s icy gaze swept over everyone.

    "..."

    The room fell dead silent, many people looked at each other with very ugly expressions on their faces.

    Corporate warfare is not a joke¡ªit genuinely costs lives.

    Despite having casualty insurance andpensation, isn''t it better to be alive?

    After a minute of silence, no one left!

    The HR Director, Takar, surreptitiously sized everyone up, the wily old man putting away his little scheming thoughts.

    Who knows if this One-Eyed woman was testing to see who would be unlucky enough to jump out and be a sacrificial g.

    The life of one person is enough to settle the restless Aircrew Base, prompting everyone to abandon their fantasies and prepare for battle.

    "Starting now, establish a wartime Command Center, the entire base enters emergency status, all departments are on standby 24 hours, the ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron prepares two ''Big Mouth Monsters'' equipped with electronic pods, on alternating patrols..."

    Although Hanna Gagel had only recently be the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, hermands were orderly, showing no signs of confusion.

    As soon as the meeting ended, Aircrew Base 911 started operating like a real war machine¡ªslowly and resolutely at full capacity.

    -

    Back at the dorm, Chen Fei began constructing a new nest for his pet. First, because the Little Bird had grownrger, and second, because the original nest indeed needed an improved and expanded area¡ªit was, after all, a necessity.

    The Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, given to him by Yn, was boldly ced inside the bird''s nest; the core emitted a light haze that could even rece the tablemp on the bedside table.

    The fragrant chicken feed and vigorous mealworms were no longer enticing. Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow''s favorite activity was pecking at this Magical Beast Crystal Core. Each peck induced a small release of Light Elemental Energy, which was then immediately absorbed by the little bird.

    As a Light-element bird-shaped Magical Beast, the Pure Light Sparrow was greatly attracted to the Light Element Crystal Core, which shared its Elemental Attribute. But fully absorbing all the Light Elemental Energy contained in this Crystal Core was not something that could be achieved in a day or two.

    Ding ding ding ding... Xiao Jiu did not tire, pecking merrily away like a diligent little miner, drawing on deeply ingrained instincts to strive for more Light Elemental Energy.

    Just as Chen Fei finished building the nest, his mobile phone rang, lighting up to show that the call was from his younger sister, Chen Meng.

    -

 Chapter 90: Section 90 - After Extreme Adversity Comes Prosperity

    "Hey, Xiao Meng, howe you have time to call me?"

    Chen Fei was very surprised. It wasn''t the time for him to call home yet, but his little sister had taken the initiative to call. Shouldn''t that cunningly adorable Meng Meng be buried in her books, preparing for the college entrance exam?

    Suppressing her excitement, the little sister spoke loudly, "Second Brother, I''ve got a solid shot at the undergrad program now!"

    Chen Fei''s second-hand clunker of a phone might have been worn on the outside, but the call quality hadn''t been affected at all. It was still clear and loud. He said in confusion, "Did the college entrance exam get moved up? Howe you''re so sure?"

    There were still a few months to go before the college entrance exam!

    "Brother, I got the qualifications for a trainee position, guess whichpany it is?"

    Finally shedding her recent sullenness and gloom, Chen Meng had returned to her originally cheerful and vivacious self.

    "Could it be one of the top 500 in the world? A Central Enterprise? No, Central Enterprises only look after their own employees'' children."

    Chen Fei was puzzled and couldn''t guess whichpany had thrown such a good opportunity his little sister''s way.

    ording to the college entrance exam reforms over the past two decades, securing a trainee position was akin to having one foot in the door of a university, with extra consideration given on the scoreline. In the fiercepetition of the exams, even a single extra point was an unimaginable advantage, something that money couldn''t buy.

    After graduating with an undergraduate degree, a job would be waiting, guaranteeing a government-subsidized livelihood. Don''t think that just anypany can apply for a trainee; if a small street vendor brought out a university trainee, it would be ridiculous.

    Once they obtained an undergraduate degree, trainees could opt to continue their education ¨C graduate school, master''s programs, doctoral studies ¨C as long as they could qualify, the sponsoring organization would not refuse since they had already invested resources in grooming talent, the higher the level of expertise developed, the better.

    Proudly, his little sister Chen Meng said, "No, it''s Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, the centennial factory, Henghai Military Defense. I am now a trainee of Henghai Tactical Weapons, and I''ve got a twenty-point bonus!"

    "Hiss! How did you manage that?"

    Chen Fei gasped in astonishment.

    His little sister had really turned her luck around, securing a deal with the century-old factory and getting a twenty-point bonus on the college entrance exam¡ªan advantage two million Star Yuan couldn''t buy!

    "Hee hee! Henghai Tactical Weapons Group openly recruited trainees, I tried my luck and ranked third in the exam. Just like that, I made it!" Chen Meng exined simply and then continued, "The police just got new information; it seems like they''ve found a clue to the whereabouts of the family who tricked me into providing a guarantee. It won''t be long before they catch them."

    Her voice choked up as she reached the end.

    You can know a person''s face but not their heart. A childhood ymate turned into both a best friend and a fellow student whom she thought she knew well, yet she took advantage of Chen Meng''s trust to brutally stab her in the back, shattering her worldview in an instant.

    A five million Star Yuan debt is an amount most ordinary people wouldn''t earn in a lifetime, even without spending a dime¡ªand that''s without counting the interest. With such a burden, whether interest was included or not made little difference; it was impossible to repay.

    Her oldest brother had just managed to finish his wedding banquet, yet life was anything but easy. Second Brother had no choice but to drop out of school and leave home to work off the debts. A cloud hung over the entire family, with no glimmer of sunlight in sight.

    If she could catch the malicious friend who had ruined her life and her family''s, Chen Meng would love to tear her limb from limb to release the hatred in her heart.

    "That''s great news, like double happinessing your way. Xiao Meng, your luck is turning around. Congrattions!"

    One piece of good news after another made Chen Fei, as the second brother, feel genuinely happy.

    "Second Brother, it''s all because I''ve been a burden to you."

    Chen Meng started sobbing. If it hadn''t been for her naivety, the most promising member of the Chen Family wouldn''t have had to interrupt his promising academic career, giving up the chance to pursue a masters and immediately start working, and moreover, in the deste Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

    A ce that couldn''t even be called an economic zone, not to mention a suitable area for farming or animal husbandry¡ªit was only known for the asional appearance of mutants and magical beasts, as well as roaming wild animals, conditions that were harsh beyond imagination.

    "Xiao Meng, when you finish your undergrad, don''t rush to start working. Continue your education. The higher your degree, the higher your ie will be. I''m still young, I can endure a few more years. Once all debts are paid off, I might even make a fortune, and then we can have a good life," Chen Fei said, holding the phone with a smile on his face.

    His tone was very rxed, not at all a forced disy of indifference.

    In truth, he had neverined.

    Everyone was family. No one wanted such things to happen, but someone had to shoulder the burden.

    Although Chen Fei had taken on the responsibility, that didn''t mean others could truly rx. It just allowed them to catch their breath for a moment¡ªhow could he let himself be buried under the debt for a lifetime?

    To be honest, Apocalypse Defense Group and the Aircrew Base hadn''t mistreated Chen Fei himself.

    Even though he had incurred an additional debt of two million Star Yuan due to a life-saving First Rank Earth Order magic potion worth ten million Star Yuan, he not only pulled back from the brink of death but also fully recovered, retaining his ability to work. This alone was priceless, far exceeding the two million Star Yuan.

    ```

    If ending up with a fate worse than death, that would be a misery beyond description. At least now I can take on a few more jobs at the 911 Aircrew Base, earning quite a bit, clearing all debts within a year is almost certain, without being forever suffocated by them.

    Looking back, I might even earn arge sum of money, and that''s not an exaggeration.

    Leaving those aside, just the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core in the new nest of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu on the bedside table right now is enough for Chen Fei to shake off all debts on the spot.

    On the other end of the call, Chen Meng sniffed and said firmly, "Yes, big brother, I will work twice as hard."

    As a trainee for Henghai Tactical Weapons, oncepleting her studies and entering a job post, her sry would definitely not be less than what Chen Fei is making now with multiple jobs.

    Chen Fei said with a smile, "Alright, keep it up!"

    "Keep it up!"

    Finally, Chen Meng hung up the phone.

    This really was not easy!

    Chen Fei had thought his sister would never be able to get out of this for life, or else all his hard work to pay off debts would have been in vain.

    The whole family can only see hope if they pull together and support each other. If disaster strikes and everyone fends for themselves, the boat will capsize sooner orter, and no one will escape.

    Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

    Just after hanging up the call with his sister Chen Meng, another call immediately came in.

    "Hello, Mr. Abel, what''s the matter?"

    The caller ID showed one of the two head chefs at the base canteen, Chef Abel.

    Abel said anxiously, "Chen Fei, have you heard? War has been dered!"

    He didn''t have many friends at the Aircrew Base, other than Chen Fei, there was only one fellow townsman, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane.

    "War? Isn''t it over?"

    Chen Fei was stunned. By over, he was referring to the recent event when the 911 Aircrew Base ttened the 897 Aircrew Base in a campaign.

    The opposing military contractor was probably still crying over rubble and cement blocks!

    "Not that one, a giant military contractor has initiated a corporate war against our Apocalypse Defense Group, the battle is about to begin, damn it, as soon as the war news broke out, Singh and a bunch of people are making a fuss with Human Resources Manager Takar demanding a sry increase by at least thirty times, or they are walking out. They are so damn greedy!"

    Chef Abel was full ofints on the phone. If not for Singh''s obsessivepulsive disorder keeping the kitchen spotless, he would not tolerate this individual who insulted the spirit of chefs.

    "Thirty times, why don''t they just rob a bank!"

    Chen Fei was also shocked.

    Experience more on m-v|l e''-NovelBin

    As the Human Resources Manager doing anything but human resource work was already bad enough, but for Takar to be aggravating the situation at such a critical juncture was a bit too much. It was no different from looting in a fire.

    "Exactly, they originally wanted a fifty-fold sry increase. Afraid of negotiations breaking down, they left some room forpromise. Chen Fei, you have to think of something for me. If Singh and his crew run off, I won''t be able to cope on my own. Damn Ministry of Internal Affairs, they even fired Old Piao!"

    Whenever Chef Abel mentioned Pu Aihua, who liked to mess with petty trades instead of doing his job properly, he was full of resentment. Compared to Human Resources Manager Takar''s group of cunning countrymen, Pu Aihua was like a hardworking ox.

    If it weren''t for finding Chen Fei, a neer to fill in just in time, Chef Abel might have felt overwhelmed.

    "Me? What can I do?"

    Chen Fei scratched his head. By the time there was only Chef Abel left, not even unpacking frozen packages would work; the key factor would be what the canned goods thought.

    But the main point isn''t this!

    Who exactly does the 911 Aircrew Base have to fight, and what exactly is the n for battle?

    He was almost sidetracked by Chef Abel''s point of view.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 91: Section 91

    The person who called to notify Chen Fei about the impending conflict was not only Chef Abel from the base canteen, but also Big Brother Xiao, the mechanic chief, and "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron; they all wanted this rookie to be mentally prepared in advance not to freak out before the enemy even arrived and make some rash and impulsive decisions.

    As for Chekhov Big Bear, the head of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, he was probably brandishing his hand at the topographic map of Xingdu Kush Mountain Area right now, devising all sorts of ambush tactics like facing the enemy head-on or striking first to gain the upper hand.

    Flying an attack aircraft was all about offense, with skill points all added to attack and speed¡ªfull offense, full speed, low sensitivity, zero defense; just a small poke could finish them off. Having the attack aircraft pilots simply defend the ground would be worse than killing them outright; it''s simply not feasible!

    Sneaky attacks, throw a bomb, and run ¨C now that''s the real deal! What era are we in, still dogfighting, just toying with dogs!

    The head of human resources, Takar, was leading some employees in a protest within the base to fish for personal benefits. Aside from a few employees who irrationally joined the chaos, most were diligently stationed at their posts and even drafted a wartime shift rota to ensure every position was staffed 24 hours a day.

    After all, during such times, creating confusion among themselves was thest thing needed; once they gave the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium an opportunity, nobody would survive.

    When the bombs drop and the missiles descend, there will be no mercy whatsoever.

    An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop light attack aircraft equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks and electronic pods took off, circling around Aircrew Base 911, always on alert, guarding against the potential attack from fighters sided with the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, like the long-range raid on Aircrew Base 897.

    If only Aircrew Base 897 had a turboprop hanging a tactical electronic reconnaissance pod patrolling in the sky that day, the five "Big Mouth Monsters" of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron wouldn''t have easily seeded in their ultra-low-altitude close-range surprise attack.

    Learning from the defeated, Aircrew Base 911 was fully prepared.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" could stay airborne for 15 hours, but the pilots couldn''t handle such long durations; they had to switch every four hours and even needed diapers, especially under the current circumstances when pilots must avoid fatigue.

    Aircrew Base 911 and Apocalypse Defense were not worried about the Meman Brothers United possibly deploying radar-evading stealthbat weapons, as no military contractor could possess such Sovereign Level warfare weaponry.

    More bad news arrived: Aircrew Base 909 to the south of Aircrew Base 911 had defected, having once fought side by side against the Metallic Dragons Bit and shared in the substantial benefits from Apocalypse Defense Group, only to turn around and join the industry giant, Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, without hesitation.

    What was most infuriating was that after the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron raided Aircrew Base 897, they refueled and resupplied at Aircrew Base 909 on their way back. In theory, there should have been irond camaraderie since they had faced battles together,

    yet despite such a rtionship, the military contractor behind Aircrew Base 909 chose to betray them.

    Luckily, the superior level of Apocalypse Defense Group''s intelligence was powerful enough to deliver this crucial information in time; otherwise, it would have been a tremendous loss.

    Aircrew Base 909 had the audacity to offer support, but Aircrew Base 911 saw through their wild ambitions and cursed them out directly.

    The actual fighting hadn''t even started yet, and already the two neighboring aircrew bases had begun an outright verbal war over publicmunication channels, one using the other of ingratitude, the other of monopolizing the benefits; each had their reasoning, and everyone could hear the spitting contest in full swing.

    Since ancient times, verbal skirmishes have always been one of the mostmon military tactics, falling into the category of psychological warfare¡ªanyone who takes it seriously has lost.

    The strength disparity in the corporate war between the industry-ranked 27th and 8th was simply too vast.

    As the weaker party, Apocalypse Defense Group wasn''t just sitting around waiting to be hit; it was aligning allies and forming coalitions to boost its stance, making the Meman Brothers United think twice, wary of the consequences while also leveraging connections, exchanging resources to try and negotiate a private settlement with Meman Brothers United to avoid this corporate war, or at least not turn it into aplete catastrophe.

    After sunset, Chen Fei brought Little Bird and its new nest to the steel shed that housed the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower to switch shifts with Old Master Barut.

    Now that Aircrew Base 911 was facing an unexpected corporate war, the Energy Tower, which always needed guarding, was now even more in need of surveince.

    Task List:

    1. Devour 1 ton of metal to earn +1 Energy Point (Daily Task)

    2. Kill a good person within 52 hours to earn +100 Energy Points (If the task is notpleted on time, die!)

    In this wild mountainous region, where was Chen Fei supposed to find a good person to kill? The person he most wanted to put down, Big Bear, wasn''t a good person at all, and Teacher Shen Fei definitely was, but could he really bring himself to do it?

    Counting on his fingers, he had already died twice that month; was Chen Fei still afraid of death?

    Damn it! Might as well just lie down and give up! Whatever will be, will be!

    Just then, during the corporate war, all employees of the Aircrew Base 911 had their sries doubled, wartimepensation doubled, and there was also a temporary increase in disability and personal ident insurance. It was enough.

    If anything were to happen, the Earth Order Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core and Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu would allow the descendants of the Chen Family Gate to prosper for maybe a generation or two, so it was definitely not a loss.

    Should anyone dare target this ultimate security, the Metallic Dragons, led by Yn along with the backing of the Sky Dragon City, would absolutely make the perpetrator regret ever being born.

    Chen Fei set down his belongings and prepared to take a stance.

    "Old Master, your Squatting Horse Stance technique is really effective," he said.

    Indeed, after squatting in the "Toilet Step" for a few days, not only had his strength greatly increased, but his vitality and spirit had improved as well.

    "Today, we won''t practice the Horse Stance; conserve your physical energy. I''ll teach you a breathing technique, start with this instead," he said.

    The Neanderthal elder was holding a slender, cone-like object that emitted a purple-blue sheen, wrapped in the middle with thin hemp rope, its sharp tip adorned with bright red tassels, appearing to be a type of Cold Weapon.

    Chen Fei eyed the slender cone which was almost as tall as he was and asked puzzledly, "Eh? Grandpa Barut, what''s this in your hand?"

    "It''s called Blood Spike, an oldpanion that has been with me my whole life," he said.

    Barut, hunched over, seemed to be reminiscing about his past glories.

    Now he was just a frail old man at the twilight of his life, no longer the elite warrior who defended the Supreme Council. Hisst few memories would be buried with him, leaving no trace in this world.

    Looking away from the slender spear, Barut turned to Chen Fei and said, "The breathing technique I''m about to teach you is a type of Internal Strengthening Technique. The stance strengthens muscles and bones, while breathing adjusts organs and blood vessels.

    The knack is simple, ''Nine Shallows and One Deep'', breathe shallowly and quickly nine times, then take as deep a breath as possible once, breathing in and out slowly, pause for three seconds before continuing."

    The subtler the skill, the simpler it actually is.

    Chen Fei tried the newly learned "Nine Shallows and One Deep" breathing technique for a few minutes. Although initially slightly unustomed, he quickly became adept at it, finding it quite interesting.

    However, the breathing technique of the Internal Strengthening Technique wouldn''t have immediate effects; just like the Horse Stance, the more persistent the practice, the more evident the effects would be.

    "It seems you''ve mastered it, and there''s nothing more for me to teach you," Barut said with a sigh of mncholy.

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    Is that all?

    Chen Fei, stunned, refused to believe it and said, "Grandpa Barut, you must have other skills. Teaching one is the same as teaching two, don''t hold back, teach them all to me!"

    "Heh, there still is one!" Barut said, tapping the blood-colored tattoos on his body with a finger, speaking cryptically: "My War Patterns, do you want to inherit them?"

    "War Patterns?"

    Chen Fei''s hair stood on end immediately, the old man''s tattoos looked frightening just to look at, he really didn''t want that!

    Getting such tattoos over his own body, was he not going to worry about having a girlfriend anymore?

    "Yes, the Horse Stance I taught you before, and the breathing technique from just now, along with these War Patterns, form the Secret Technique of Fighting to the Death of my War Tribe," Barut exined.

    Barut flicked his Blood Spike and the long slender shaft trembled slightly, emitting a humming sound.

    He turned the sharp point toward a clump of bushes not far away, his eyes wide open, and suddenly shouted, "Come out! You cowardly rats!!!"

    -

 Chapter 92: Section 92 - Good People Get Rewarded

    "Cheep!"

    The old man''s sudden loud shout woke up the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, who had been napping against the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core.

    It opened its eyes in confusion and peered outside its little nest.

    Daddy is still there, everything is fine, everything is fine!

    "Cheep!~"

    Inside the warm, spring-like hut, branches rubbed against each other, making a slight rustling sound; the door was shut tightly, and no wind had blown in.

    Chen Fei felt the hair on his back stand up for no reason, as if there was something strange in the room.

    But other than the inexplicable rustling sound, there was no other noise.

    "Be careful!"

    The Neanderthal tribe elder shed into action, grabbing Chen Fei as if he were picking up a chick, and yanked him forcefully more than three feet away.

    Pop, pop, pop!

    A series of soft sounds followed where Chen Fei had just been standing, revealing a row of holes.

    Goodness gracious!

    What was this situation?

    Caught off guard, Chen Fei wasn''t scared at all, his expression didn''t even change.

    For one, he was impervious to swords and guns, and secondly, he only had 52 hours left to live; life had already ttened him, so there was nothing to worry about.

    Come on, move yourself!

    "Silly boy, don''t space out, find somewhere to hide quickly," the old man ordered.

    The elder shoved Chen Fei into a corner, turned around and waved his hand fiercely, shouting, "Come out now!"

    "Blood Spike" transformed into a streak of purple lightning and shot out.

    Thump!~

    In a muffled sound, it struck the iron wall panel inside the steel structure hut.

    The wall panel, sandwiched between twoyers of iron and a thickyer of insting foam stic, dented inward, almost bursting open.

    At the dented spot, the outline of a humanoid figure, clear as shattered ss, suddenly appeared, quickly filled with countless tiny colored fragments, and finally turned pure ck, tightly enveloped from head to toe. The person seemed incredulous as they lowered their head to look at the sharp, slender object piercing their chest.

    "Hehe! Heh..."

    Finally, they lowered their head, the sound fading.

    Pop, pop, tter, tter, pop, pop... The hut seemed engulfed in a violent storm, with trajectories crisscrossing, branches and leaves flying everywhere. Even the centrally located Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, due to itsrge size, didn''t escape the bullets, causing onlookers to tremble with fear.

    System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams,position ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%...

    System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams,position ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%...

    System: Ding! Absorbed alloy body 8.1 grams,position ratio: iron 55%, lead 35%, copper 7%, organic matter 2.5%...

    ...

    Chen Fei felt as though his buttocks had been kicked several times, realizing he had been shot again, and quickly changed his position to protect his vital parts.

    The storm-like dense barrage seemed not to touch the Neanderthal tribe elder at all. He floated uncertainly like a phantom, ying in the rain of bullets, yet emerged unscathed, effortlessly. With a gesture, the slender cone-shaped "Blood Spike" was pulled back by an invisible force, blinking back into Barut''s hand, and thrown again effortlessly.

    "Ah!~"

    This time, a scream finally sounded.

    Another person, their body shing with tiny colored fragments, was impaled by the "Blood Spike" and nailed to the trunk of a Laurel Tree, their hand holding a seemingly invisible silencer.

    "These people can turn invisible?"

    Chen Fei gasped in shock, and it was optical invisibility, too.

    Old Master Barut was truly formidable, having taken down two in an instant. If it weren''t for the old man''s keen senses, both of them could have been fatally harmed by the enemy.

    Uh! No, that''s not right. Only the old man was potentially fatally harmed; Chen Fei himself would only be painfully shot.

    The steel structure hut quieted down, and Chen Fei carefully peered out from where he was hiding.

    Is it finally over?

    The bullet-riddled Energy Tower was still operating normally, the disy screens showing a very steady power output curve; the fusion reaction had not been disturbed or damaged.

    He didn''t notice the shadow under his feet weirdly and rapidly expanding.

    Just as Barut was about to call back the "Blood Spike," he looked towards Chen Fei and suddenly stopped his action, urgently shouting, "Kid, don''t move!"

    "..."

    The young Chen Fei looked baffled.

    He felt a sudden chill on his neck as a strange voice sounded in his ear.

    "Hey, the old man was right, you better not move."

    System: Ding! Detected S2 tool steel 121 grams, absorb: Yes/No£ü?.

    No!

    As the food was almost in the bowl, Chen Fei was not in a hurry.

    With the system on his side, he remained calm and asked, "Who are you?"

    "Hehe, I am a good person!"

    This cold joke wasn''t funny at all.

    But¡­ I''ve been waiting for you for so long!

    Skill selection "Eyes of Tyranny."

    System: Energy Points -1!

    Let''s go!

    Puff!~

    "Ugh!~"

    Both parties stiffened at the same time, Chen Fei and his opponent simultaneously looked down.

    The former''s left hand, or rather, at this moment it should be called a w, from forearm to fingertips, was covered inyers of dark-gold scales, with nails sharp as des, deeply embedded in the opponent''s chest.

    Nylon w Hand!

    Thetter still had a tactical dagger poised at the former''s neck.

    "You¡­"

    I just wanted to show off, but ended up bing a fool; the person who turned from a shadow into a human form had a heart-wrenching pain. When he saw Chen Fei''s fragmented golden eyes, he was greatly frightened, pushed his strength without hesitation, pulled back explosively, ignoring the blood gushing from his chest as he almost vanished into the nearby shadows.

    System: Ding! Absorbed S2 tool steel 121 grams,position ratio: Iron 96.55%, Silicon 1%, Carbon 0.65%, Manganese 0.5%, Molybdenum 0.5%, Chromium 0.3%, Vanadium 0.2%, Copper 0.15%, Nickel 0.1%, Phosphorus 0.02%, Sulfur 0.02%...

    "Chirp!~"

    A crisp bird chirp resounded, the steel structure warehouse suddenly brightened tremendously.

    The person who was about to vanish into the shadows suddenly fell out, with Chen Fei under the "Eyes of Tyranny" state reacting extremely quickly, dashing over and swinging his w.

    His victim''s body burst apart, spraying blood and flesh among the nts and flowers.

    Several fragments of knife handles fell to the ground, but the metal de vanished without a trace.

    System: "Kill a Good Person" missionpleted, energy points gained +100!

    Individual information:

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 150/11

    Burst Strength: 200/55

    Fullness: 85%

    Active time: 45 hours

    Energy Points: 111/5000

    Read new adventures at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin

    Eyes of Tyranny duration 11 seconds, 10 seconds, 9 seconds¡­

    "Hmph! A Dark Elemental Psychic!"

    Barut surveyed the scattered blood and flesh, waved his hand, and his lifelongpanion "Blood Spike" flew back to him, safelynding in his hand. He hadn''t anticipated such a clean and decisive finish.

    A Dark Elemental Psychic''s "Shadow Escape" encountering a Light-element Magical Beast truly brings misfortune upon themselves.

    Turning his gaze, it fell on Chen Fei''s hands; both his hands had transformed into ferocious ws, and his eyes had at some point turned into fragmented golden pupils, which involuntarily sent a chill through him, and he said uncertainly, "Not bad, kid. I underestimated you. You''ve hidden your true nature well, a beastial transformer indeed."

    On Blue Star, aside from supernatural power users, there were also those who underwent bio-technological transformation into beastial transformers, although the technology was still immature and even rarer to encounter.

    The wandering elder of the Neanderthal tribe had seen much and knew a lot.

    In Barut''s view, Chen Fei''s hands and eyes fit perfectly with the characteristics of a beastial transformer, and he had to admit he had been fooled; the young man had indeed yed the role of a pig to eat a tiger.

    "Ah? A beastial transformer? Not at all! I am a Metal Elemental Psychic, I just awakened a few days ago, oh! The Supernatural Ability Suppressant has worn off!"

    Chen Fei looked at his own terrifying hands; scales and sharp ws visibly receded at a rapid pace, reverting to their original form.

    "Eyes of Tyranny" duration finally reached zero, beginning a 15-second cooldown.

    It finally dawned on me that the Supernatural Ability Suppressant failed to prevent "Eyes of Tyranny" from activating.

    Skill Shop:

    Physical Evolution Database: 99 energy points

    Purchase!

    Energy Points: 12/5000

    My Skills:

    1. Metal Devouring,

    2. Eyes of Tyranny (consumes 1 energy point,sts 15 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds)

    3. Physical Evolution Database (0), category: None/management...

    "Just awakened a few days ago?"

    The Neanderthal elder was somewhat stunned, having previously thought Chen Fei was a deep strategist who had deceived him for a long time, yet the answer turned out to be this.

    He scrutinized Chen Fei carefully, trying to detect any signs of deceit.

    Yet Chen nodded as if it were only natural, saying, "Yes! I was hijacked by a group of unidentified armed individuals a while ago, and somehow just awakened. Manager Hanna knows, she told me it was a Metal Elemental Ability and even had me learn to control my abilities with Metallic Dragon Yn."

    A man and a dragon together, learned nothing, but devoured more than a ton of rough alloy ingots.

    Boom!~

    A loud bang sounded outside the steel structure warehouse, the st wave came through, making the entire warehouse tremble slightly.

 Chapter 93: Section 93 - Come, do it yourself

    Alongside the loud bang, a sh of light that streaked past the window almost lit up half of the night sky. The old Neanderthal man gripped the slim, spike-shaped "Blood Spike" tightly and said with a frown, "This is bad! It''s not just us! We''re in big trouble!"

    Even supernatural power users and optical invisibility equipment had appeared. The enemy bold enough to attack the Aircrew Base 911 definitely had more tricks up their sleeve.

    One could even say, the battle had just begun.

    The entire Aircrew Base 911 probably hadn''t expected that the attack by the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium woulde so swiftly. Just two hours after they announced theunch of a corporate war against the Apocalypse Defense Group, the assault began, and it was a surprise attack at night.

    The "Steal-the-Tower" tactic was spot on, aiming to destroy the main energy source of Aircrew Base 911 first, affecting various systems that rely on sufficient electricity supply, not just radar,munication, andmand systems, but also the anti-air systems.

    "Shall we go help?"

    Chen Fei was eager to jump into action.

    System: Ding! Establish evolutionary sample 1, reward Energy Points +1 (Newbie task)

    System: Kill ten people within 24 hours, receive 200 Energy Points (If task is notpleted on time, die!)

    Well, that is really great luck, just what was wanted!

    Such a murderously intense death task had appeared all of a sudden.

    Continuing to stay down was definitely the right move!

    Come on, move yourself!

    "Don''t rush, wait a moment!"

    Barut shook his head and while pricking up his ears to listen to the noises outside, he deftly checked the two guys who had been stabbed to death by the "Blood Spike."

    Outside the steel structure hut, gunshots and explosions intertwined into one, instantly making the high ground where the aircrew base was located bustling.

    Once elite warriors guarding the Supreme Council of the Third Era Civilization, they were almost bone-deep familiar with skirmishes and warfare, knowing exactly what to do and when, preparing every second.

    "Optical invisibilitybined with dark elemental psychic, that was really close!"

    Barut found two automatic silenced weapons with optical invisibility functionality, several magazine clips, and ten high-energy bombs, any one of which could stop the energy tower inside the hut from operating.

    Even low-temperature nuclear fusion has mild radiation, but the internal safety protection device of the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower could reset the reaction module immediately upon experiencing severe impacts and serious malfunctions, preventing any leakage of heavy water fuel.

    "Chirp!"

    The victorious Pure Light Sparrow pped its tiny wings and flew out of its nest,nding on Chen Fei''s shoulder.

    "Well done, Little Jiu!"

    Chen Fei rubbed the little bird''s head with his finger. Low-rank magical beasts that suddenly ess high-rank resources can grow incredibly fast in a short time. Surprisingly, it had mastered new skills so quickly and had been a big help.

    Little Jiu made a series of short, loud sounds.

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    Though the little bird couldn''t talk, it couldmunicate its emotions through changes in its chirping sounds; it was quite delighted at the moment!

    ncing at Chen Fei who was ying with the little bird, Barut thought he might have overthought things before.

    If it were someone deeply scheming, how could they repeatedly risk their life? A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, yet this young man had almost lost his life several times. Such a person was either a Son of Destiny or a lifetime of formidable influence.

    Bang!~

    A dazzling blue lightning streaked across the sky above the steel structure hut.

    Just then, the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower started crackling, the control panel burst into electrical sparks, and all the lights dimmed instantly, filling the air with a burnt smell.

    "ID: 2333!"

    The previously unlit glow tube disy screen suddenly lit up.

    Even the main control disy screen of the surviving energy tower was pitch ck.

    "Code 2333, it''s electromaic pulse damage; that was an EMP."

    Barut immediately recognized the fault information indicated on the glow tube disy screen.

    The attackers'' n-B!

    It was clear that they already knew that the n of one dark elemental psychic with two optical invisible warriors to raid the energy tower had failed and all were lost. Instead of sending more people to dive into this bottomless pit, they simply fired an EMP to wreak havoc, leaving everyone''s electronic devices dead. Whatever remained functional was purely up to luck.

    The Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, capable of withstanding close-range gunfire from light weapons, had finally gone dead.

    Having lost its main control system, sensor system, and outer security system, a safety mechanism was triaged, the machinery automatically reset the reaction inserts, and the nuclear fusion reaction naturally ceased, causing the output of electrical power to plummet rapidly. The core structure, however, remained mostly undamaged.

    While the internal fusion reaction of the Energy Tower could ensure a stable energy output, once the fusion reaction stopped, it could no longer self-initiate the nuclear fusion reaction, meaning that before the manufacturer arrived with the ignition device, the entire 911 Aircrew Base would be plunged into a shortage of electricity, even though there was a backup power system.

    Still, it ultimately couldn''tpare to the supply of power from an operational low-temperature nuclear fusion energy tower.

    Under normal ideal conditions, a low-temperature nuclear fusion energy tower would continuously operate from its initial ignition until it was scrapped, with its lifespan not concluding and the fusion reaction never stopping, even maintenance and recement of reaction inserts during operation would not require the fusion reaction to pause.

    Every ignition required a considerable amount of energy.

    Nowadays, with the use of Crystalline Blocks, the size and weight of the ignition device had been significantly reduced.

    "Are we still staying here?"

    Chen Fei looked towards the now darkened Energy Tower; he and Old Master Barut were here to protect this thing after all.

    Having taken an EMP strike, this turned-dead Energy Tower had already lost its tactical value.

    Also dead were Chen Fei''s second-hand old phone and health bracelet; cheap goods, not worth the heartache, whereas the notebook and tablet left in the dormitory at most lost local data, basically just some personal settings, most data were still in the remote cloud storage space.

    Once he swapped to a newputer, a ''Biu'' and it would automatically restore exactly as before¡ªthe convenience of cloud technology.

    "Chirp!~"

    A light appeared on his shoulder, a ping pong ball-sized light sphere was hovering in front of Xiao Jiu''s sharp beak.

    In a nearby nest, a light-element magical beast crystal core of the Third Rank was also emitting a soft white light, substituting as illumination.

    "Xiao Jiu is really well-behaved!"

    Seeing this, the Neanderthal elder, Grandpa Barut, smiled and then said, "Anyway, there''s no point staying here, let''s go out and have a look, I''ll go ahead; you follow behind, and let Xiao Jiu stay here. It attracts too much attention."

    The pure light sparrow, like a little light bulb, could easily attract attacks under the night sky, and for low-rank magical beasts, human firearms were still very dangerous.

    Chen Fei immediately grabbed the lively Little Bird and returned it to its nest, tucking it into a corner with additional cover to block the faint light emitted by the crystal core. This way, even if someone else came in, they wouldn''t discover this little bird and the light-element magical beast crystal core worth millions of Star Yuan.

    "Grandpa Barut, I''ll take the lead, and you follow behind!"

    After securing Little Bird, Chen Fei dashed to the door, signaled with his hand, and then pushed the door open and went out.

    Outside, there were still 200 Energy Points waiting for him to collect.

    Eating a ton of metal to get one Energy Point, high risk, high reward, the 200 Energy Points from a deadly mission were too cost-effective.

    Bang!~

    Chen Fei fell backwards andnded t on the ground... Ouch, down again!

    "Ah! I''m dead! There''s a sniper!"

    System: Ding! Absorption of Alloy Body 49.21 grams,position ratio: tungsten 85%, copper 7%, iron 4%, nickel 3%...

    "Kid, how are you?"

    Barut jumped in shock.

    "I''m alright!"

    Chen Feiy on the ground, questioning his life choices, unprepared when a bullet sted into his chest, nearly knocking the breath out of him.

    Metal elemental psychic power is just that¡ªcould it not hurt so much!

    What does ''I''m alright'' even mean?

    The Neanderthal elder couldn''tprehend fully, but it didn''t sound like there was an issue. Like an agile panther, his old body dashed up steel columns and beams to the top of the shed, pushed open a corner of the wind cap, and slipped out.

    Amidst a hail of bullets, a faint cry was heard.

    Barut, holding "Blood Spike", pulled the pretending-to-be-dead Chen Fei up from the ground.

    "Sniper''s taken care of, it''s safe now."

    "Ow, old man, shall we continue?"

    Chen Fei dusted himself off and then continued to crazily test his luck on the edge of death.

    -

 Chapter 94: Section 94 - Lets Mutually Annihilate

    An EMP not only stopped the nuclear fusion reaction at the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower, but it also plunged the entire Aircrew Base into darkness, where only a few emergency lights, which were resistant to nuclear, biological, and chemical threats, continued to operate,

    while the backup power system was still under repair, uncertain of when it woulde back online to provide limited basic electricity supply.

    Having just carefully emerged from the surrounded shed constructed with standard containers like a "maze," Chen Fei was suddenly met with a barrage of shots in the dark, likely from both friend and foe; after all, who else would foolishly march into everyone''s line of sight in such darkness if not a total fool, and who would they shoot if not him?

    What else could Chen Fei do but y dead?

    Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe, who was far behind, was both amused and frustrated. Under the cover of night, he moved like a phantom, his cold weapon "Blood Spike" taking full advantage of the situation, continuously iming the lives of the assants.

    The adversaries had nned meticulously, fully aware that while optical invisibility equipment might fail due to the EMP, the pitch-ck base color provided the best visual protection under the cover of darkness unless a new light source appeared, which would cause no disturbance.

    "Old Master, leave one alive for me!"

    Upon hearing screams, Chen Fei stopped ying dead, quickly got up, and rushed towards the source of the screams.

    "What are you doing?"

    Seeing Chen Fei pursued by a hail of bullets, Barut quickly dodged further away, afraid of bing coteral damage.

    He didn''t have the young man''s invincibility to bullets; getting shot would still end him.

    "Just seizing the opportunity while it''s hot."

    Chen Fei pulled out the "Blood Spike" from an attacker''s neck, saw that the man was still barely alive, and quickly stabbed again, directly into the brain, causing the opponent to shudder and die on the spot.

    System: Ding! Discovered unknown alloy 112.531 kilograms, proceed to absorb: Yes/No£ü?

    Of course, choose "No"!

    Otherwise, Old Master would definitely fight him to the death.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Within 24 hours, sessfully kill 10 people (Mission aplished 1/10), obtain Energy Points 200 (Fail toplete the task on time, death!)

    Hiding nearby, the Neanderthal tribe elder was dumbfounded. What kind of sneaky move was this?

    Chen Fei checked a few more attackers nearby and found another one barely alive; talk about luck!

    Puff!~

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Within 24 hours, sessfully kill 10 people (Mission aplished 2/10), obtain Energy Points 200 (Fail toplete the task on time, death!)

    Old Master was almost delirious!

    Picking up bargains should never be this easy; what on earth was this youngster up to.

    He probably couldn''t figure it out even if he racked his brains.

    "Old Master, you keep going, I''ll cover you!"

    Chen Fei didn''t know where Barut was hiding, but leaving behind the "Blood Spike" was definitely right; the other party would recover it on his own.

    Pop!~

    A bright white light orb flew into the sky, illuminating the ground below as if it were daylight.

    A figure stood conspicuously in the middle of the main runway on the open grasnd, arms spread wide, screaming boldly.

    This guy was really gutsy.

    "Come at me!"

    Chen Fei, the youngster, was going all out.

    With a tter of gunfire, unsurprisingly, he was downed again.

    No help for it; bullets are delicious but hard to digest. Lying down was actually not bad, returning all the kic energy to the earth.

    He wasn''t afraid of gunfire; in fact, no one from Chen Fei''s hometown was afraid of the sound of guns and cannons. Especially during the New Year celebrations, it was exactly this noise that felt so familiar.

    "Alright, I''ve left two for you!"

    As the re swayed down, the voice of Old Master Barut floated uncertainly over; Chen Fei quickly got up and rushed over in the fading light of the re, and saw Old Master signaling him toe.

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    Sure enough, there were two guys left barely breathing; Chen Fei unceremoniously took over the "Blood Spike" and, while they were still warm, stabbed twice again.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Within 24 hours, sessfully kill 10 people (Mission aplished 4/10), obtain Energy Points 200 (Fail toplete the task on time, death!)

    This silly system...

    The Neanderthal tribe elder didn''t know what he thought, actually going along with this reckless indulgence.

    Another dazzling re burst into the air.

    "Come at me!"

    Two gunshots echoed, and the bullets made Chen Fei stumble. Just as he was about to fall, he suddenly realized the gunfire had stopped.

    What was going on?

    One side recognized the reckless guy as someone from the Aircrew Base.

    The other side had already passed the confused stage and had fully recovered, realizing that he had intentionallye out to draw their fire, with some unspeakable purpose behind it.

    In the end, neither side wanted to engage with this madman anymore.

    "Damn it..."

    Chen Fei stood scratching his head, ignored by everyone. What was he to do with the remaining six?

    Out of nowhere, a tiny spark drifted in, expanding violently without warning into a basketball-sized fireball that flew straight at Chen Fei.

    Boom!

    "Hiss... Hot, hot, hot!!!"

    The charred and haggard Chen Fei, clutching his head, dashed out of the fire, running fast. His work clothes, already riddled with bullet holes, were now even more scorched, lucky they were good quality, or he''d have had to run naked.

    He really couldn''t afford to stay down any longer as the mes continued to burn.

    "It''s a supernatural power user!"

    In the darkness, someone shouted in rm.

    Almost simultaneously, another yelled, "Damn, a mage!"

    Both adversaries believed they had uncovered yet another card in each other''s hands.

    "Chen Fei, don''t run around,e over here!"

    A gust of wind swept through, carrying the relentless mes into the sky, as bright as a re.

    The sounds of rapid gunfire resumed, apanied by exchanges of rockets and grenades, shaking the ground violently.

    Chen Fei heard someone calling him and immediately recognized it was Manager Hanna''s voice.

    He was about to run to her when he heard Old Master Barut calling him too.

    "Kid,e with me!"

    Which side should he choose?

    Faced with indecision, he was struck by two stray bullets, his head nearly splitting open. Ultimately, Chen Fei chose to follow the old man from the Neanderthal tribe.

    Manager Hanna Gagel,manding the counterattack, waited in vain and stomped her feet in frustration.

    The attackers were unexpectedly well-equipped, not only with elite warriors possessing optical invisibility equipment but also supernatural power users and mages.

    In the entire Aircrew Base, the only specializedbat personnel were Hanna Gagel, a C-level Wind-type Ability User, and the newly minted Metal Ability User Chen Fei, who yet had no clue aboutbat skills.

    Thetter''s ineptitude was so frustrating that it exasperated both friends and foes; standing tantly exposed made him a living target, a mockery of everyone''s intelligence. Did he learn nothing in college?

    Perhaps another from the Third Era Civilization, a Neanderthal tribe warrior, could be considered a bit of high-levelbat strength, but Hanna Gagel had no expectations there.

    With his feeble and elderly demeanor, it was good enough that the old man didn''t fall back; he might as well stay wherever it was safe and save thepany some condolence money.

    In the dark, a chant in a lilting tone was heard.

    Hanna Gagel''s heart sank. She had to guard against an unknown number of supernatural power users and deal with a mage of unknown level preparing his ultimate move, feeling overwhelmed.

    The potentially helpful Chen Fei had frustratingly note to join her, leaving her to fend for herself in this tough situation.

    Boom!

    Amidst a deafening explosion, mes shot up into the sky.

    Several figures were blown into the air, limbs flying chaotically.

    They were from the enemy''s side!

    Once Hanna Gagel recognized the direction, she was overjoyed.

    When the enemies initiated their ambush, the Aircrew Base suffered heavy casualties due to inadequate preparedness. Luckily, she and her team from the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded quickly, rallying hard to regain control of the chaotic frontline.

    This required them to make a split-second decision to abandon the secondarymand bunker underground air-raid facility, guarding hangars 1 and 2 while concentrating their forces to confront the attackers.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    Chen Fei tore the pin from a high-energy bomb and grinned wickedly at a terrified mage, barely holding onto his magic wand nearby.

    Let''s die together then!

    "No, don''t¡ªah, please..."

    -

 Chapter 95: Section 95 - War Professionals

    System: Killed 10 people within 24 hours (7/10pleted), gained 200 Energy Points (Failure toplete on time, death!)

    The soft fear the hard,

    The hard fear the brutal,

    The brutal fear the stubborn,

    The stubborn fear those who are reckless,

    Once the desperately poor Chen Fei let himself go, he didn''t even spare himself.

    In his eyes, these attackers were not just Energy Points, but also a bounty, though not as valuable as the previous Giant Metallic Dragon Bit, they were still worth money!

    Chen Fei, clutching the high-energy bomb, lunged at the Mage without making contact first.

    "Magic Shield! ming Scale Armor!"

    At the critical moment, the attacker, a Mage, demonstrated his high-quality spell-casting skills; a hemispherical red light shield instantly enveloped him, and a set of armor with rising mes appeared on his body, the mes gathered at the size of fingertips, flickering like fish scales.

    The Mage quickly established a dual Fire Element defense.

    Boom!~

    The bizarre blue mes instantly covered everything within a ten-meter radius, and the ripping shock-wave spread in all directions.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    The fire spells shield, vibrating with red ripples, couldn''tst long; it copsed immediately, turning into countless sparks that dissipated with the shock wave.

    The Mage''s ming armor flickered violently, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

    By the time Chen Fei regained his senses, he found himself rising from the ground, his chest and abdomen so painful he was nearly numb, his eyes involuntarily widening as he let out a hoarse scream.

    This time, it seemed like he yed a bit too rough; he had been blown into the sky!

    "Ah..."

    Rising, falling, falling, falling...

    "Ah!"

    Another scream began only to be abruptly cut off by a heavy thump.

    Someone ended up being an unfortunate cushion.

    Whoever was so unlucky, it couldn''t stop Chen Fei''s system from counting again.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: Killed 10 people within 24 hours (9/10pleted), gained 200 Energy Points (Failure toplete on time, death!)

    Apart from identally killing one by falling on him, it seemed another was taken out by the high-energy bomb.

    It''s best if it was that Mage, otherwise it would be a waste¡­ uh! He hadn''t been taken out!

    After spitting out a puff of blue smoke, the dirt-stained Chen Fei looked up, just in time to see a figure enveloped in mes.

    They say Mage Masters are crispy on the outside but soft inside, but now, this one seriously can endure!

    Felt like ripping off the defensive Magic without activating Special Abilities, and see me send him off with a sh of my ws.

    "Keep iting!~"

    Old Master Barut of the Neanderthal tribe''s voice came through, along with an object that whistled through the air, which Chen Fei caught squarely.

    Another high-energy bomb.

    All the high-energy bombs gathered by Old Master Barut were kept ready to be thrown to Chen Fei for immediate use.

    These things were darn effective; each had the power approximately equal to 10 kilograms of TNT, even more exciting than a 100mm caliber shell, could send one flying instantaneously, damn thrilling.

    The explosion of blue mes was terrifyingly hot¡ªjust being scorched briefly turned Chen Fei''s ragged clothes to ash, leaving himpletely hairless from head to toe.

    If it weren''t for being pitch ck all over, and just as dark around, it could almost turn into a big drama of "sh of Molesters: The Pervert on the Battlefield".

    "Eyes of Tyranny" activated!

    Chen Fei did not hesitate to throw himself at the stunned Mage, his fierce ws swiped, and the fiery armor just barely holding off the high-energy bomb burst into sparks, merely enduring for a moment before tearing apart like paper, turning into countless small mes and sparks that scattered away.

    "Hehe, a friend from afar brings light gifts but heavy affection, don''t be shy, stuff it well!"

    Chen Fei stuffed the high-energy bomb whose safety pin he had pulled into the other''s neckline, even kindly patted it, before ripping off arge piece of robe, wrapping it around his waist, and running off.

    Goodbye then!

    He was no masochist; he didn''t want to get sted again. This experience, once was enough.

    "You, you, you..."

    The Mage,pletely unprepared for his "ming Scale Armor" to be brutally shredded, frantically tried to extract the high-energy bomb that had fallen deep in his clothes.

    But at this critical juncture, even Magic wasn''t useful anymore; it waspletely toote.

    Boom!~

    With a huge noise, the explosion of blue mes instantly swallowed him, not even leaving ashes behind.

    System: Ding! Sessfully killed one person!

    System: "Killed 10 people within 24 hours (10/10pleted)" aplished, gained +200 Energy Points!

    Individual Information:

    Status: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 145/12

    Burst Strength: 198/60

    Fullness: 67%

    Active Time: 22 hours

    Energy Points: 211/5000

    Done!

    Chen Fei revealed a proud smile.

    Pride leads to distraction, distraction leads to misfortune.

    Before the smile faded, his expression and body suddenly stiffened, and he slowly bowed his head to see a long de protruding from his chest.

    Damn, he''d identally been fiercely stabbed in the back.

    System: Ding! Discovered 3.9 kg of chromium-molybdenum steel, absorb? Yes/No?

    System: Ding! Break someone''s neck within 1 hour, obtain +100 Energy Points (Task notpleted on time, 100 Energy Points deducted.)

    The pesky system had a new task at a critical moment, although not a death task, it was still a thankless job, bah...

    "Die, supernatural power user!"

    A murderous voice came from behind Chen Fei as the prating de fiercely began to twist.

    It seemed that being too shy had led to disdain.

    Chest pain!

    What else could he do?

    Absorb!

    With a swoosh, the de that prated from his back to his front chest instantly disappeared, and the man behind him was left holding only a hilt, grabbing at loneliness.

    System: Ding! Absorbed 3.9 kg of chromium-molybdenum steel,position: Iron 92.8%, Chromium 3.5%, Molybdenum 1.8%, Manganese 0.9%, Carbon 0.45%, Silicon 0.3%, Vanadium 0.2%...

    System: Ding! Sessfully established Evolution Sample 1, rewarded with +1 Energy Point (Rookie Task)

    Energy Points: 212/5000

    "Tell me, how do you want to die?"

    Chen Fei finally broke free from the restraints, turning around and swiping with his ws.

    But everything blurred before his eyes as his opponent, quick as lightning, dodged the attack.

    "Scram!~"

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    Battle Qi red up, leaping as he bellowed, and with a heavy punch apanied by a faint tan fire, he struck Chen Fei squarely in the chest, sending him flying and tumbling across the ground like a gourd.

    "Hiss... it hurts, hurts, hurts..."

    After a dizzying spell, Chen Fei inhaled sharply, clutching his chest tightly, his mind foggy, his vision darkening intermittently, his whole body curling up, and it seemed as if a gong and drum ensemble was ying by his ears.

    That guy had hit him hard, and he wasn''t sure if his sternum was broken, but the pain was almost unbearable, almost costing him half his life.

    It seemed that the 200 Energy Points he''d just obtained were about to slip away.

    Gunshots rang out around him, and the bullet rain enveloped Chen Fei, the kic energy from the bullets causing his body to tremble incessantly.

    "Earth Element Battle Qi? There''s actually an Earth Element Warrior here."

    Using the illumination from a re shot up once more, the female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, rushed out from her hiding spot. Her wrist, white as jade, whipped through the air, and with a flick of her hand, she sent a white stripsh flying out, quickly transforming into several invisible des darting around incessantly.

    If she hadn''te out, the only rookie supernatural power user at 911 Aircrew Base would have been killed.

    For Chen Fei to manage to kill a Mage was beyond Hanna Gagel''s expectations¡ªthis kid''s luck was extraordinary.

    Compared to the Earth Element Warrior before her, she was more wary of that Mage.

    Several heads flew, and the attackers who were desperately focusing fire on Chen Fei staggered for a moment, bluish blood spraying from their severed necks before they finally fell with a crash.

    Thud!~

    A severe muffled sound.

    It was as if the air had been violently shaken.

    The Earth Element Warrior, having drawn a dagger anew, engaged in closebat, the sound of shing weapons unceasing, reminiscent of the constant hammering in a cksmith''s shop, each strike ringing painfully in the ears.

    The dagger held its own against the "Blood Spike," not falling behind in the slightest.

    "Barut!"

    Seeing the bent figure of the old Neanderthal man moving as agile as a monkey, trading blows with the Earth Element Warrior, the female executive manager gathering wind felt it incredible.

    Was this still the doddery old man she knew?

    -

 Chapter 96: Section 96 - Secret Technique: Fight to the Death

    Neanderthals!

    The War Professional who had unleashed his Battle Qi in full force was both shocked and enraged. The slender, spike-like cold weapon clearly was not light, and with every sh, the reverberating force transmitted up the dagger made him suffer a disadvantage.

    The flickering blood-red War Patterns indicated that this old fellow was no longer as mighty as he had once been. If he were to invoke the Neanderthal tribe''s Secret Technique, this duel could very well be extremely thorny.

    "Old man, where''s your Secret Technique? Use it, and let me have a look," he said.

    The Earth Element Warrior steeled his heart, nning to exhaust this old man to death.

    After all, the disparity in age was clear. His vitality was far fromparable to that of the young, and he was bound to burn out sooner orter.

    "You think I don''t exist?"

    The invisible cutting force silently glided toward the neck of the War Professional, his Battle Qi, which burned like mes, detected the danger at the very first moment.

    Utilizing the recoil from yet another weapon sh, the dagger was swung back in his hand, striking directly against the stealthy Wind de attack.

    Hiss!~

    The sound of tearing silk rang out, as the Wind de was forcibly scattered by the Sword Qi, posing no further threat.

    "Wind Barrier, Impact!"

    The timely arrived female executive manager pushed forward with both hands, and a tennis ball-sized gust flew over.

    She had to end the battle quickly. Even if the Energy Tower was damaged and the anti-air and radar systems were not working properly, the enemy''s aerial strike was foreseen to arrive imminently.

    "Earth-splitting sh!"

    The War Professional knew that he could not hold back any longer and immediately used his trump card.

    Compared to the old Neanderthal tribe''s man he was fighting, the one-eyed woman posed a much greater threat.

    Boom!~

    The shockwaves rolled, sending all three flying back together.

    "What the hell was that explosion?"

    The dizzy Chen Fei finally managed to recover his strength.

    "Eyes of Tyranny" was still cooling down, but his individual information was not looking very good.

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 10/12

    Burst Strength: 45/60

    Fullness: 37%

    Active time: 12 hours

    Energy Points: 211/5000

    The quantified information reflected a feeling of being tired, hungry, and sleepy. Chen Fei felt that he probably could not hold on for 12 hours¡ªthe consumption was just too great.

    Lying on the ground pretending to be a dead dog while secretly catching his breath, he suddenly spotted a sneaky figure, quietly lifting a gun barrel, seemingly preparing to covertly shoot either Old Master Barut or the female executive manager.

    Without hesitation, Chen Fei leaped forward in a bound, pinning the other down to the ground before he could press the trigger, coldly saying, "I''ll give you a choice¡ªhow do you want to die?"

    The opponent reacted very quickly, dropped the gun, and swiftly pulled out a tactical dagger from his chest, plunging it into Chen Fei with a clean thrust, and sneered, "I''d prefer to die of old age."

    Crack!~

    Chen Fei, who had been stabbed in the chest, quickly broke the neck of the other party cleanly. Damn it, even facing imminent death and still trying to be clever¡ªit was infuriating!

    System: "Break someone''s neck within 1 hour"pleted, gain +100 Energy Points!

    Energy Points: 311/5000

    System: Ding! S2 tool steel, 121 grams found, absorption: Yes/No£ü?

    Chen Fei ignored the dagger that was stabbed up to its hilt in his chest, picked up the other party''s dropped invisible automatic rifle, and turned the barrel around.

    The Earth Element Warrior realized the tide had turned against him, stamped heavily on the ground, and the ground exploded, sending grass, soil, and gravel in all directions.

    "Where do you think you''re going!"

    Hanna Gagel bellowed as she hurled a Superpower Wind Ball containing hundreds of Wind des.

    With the howling winds as dreadful as a Hyakki Yagyo, the burst Wind des didn''t even touch the Earth Element Warrior''s shadow before he vanished without a trace.

    Being able to stand against C-grade Wind-type Ability User Hanna Gagel and the Neanderthal tribe''s old warrior Barut concurrently, once he decided to flee, it was difficult to catch him.

    By then, the battle within Aircrew Base 911 had entered its final stages.

    The sounds of gunfire gradually thinned, and the few remaining security personnel began to clear every corner.

    res followed one after another, temporarily recing the lighting, with no idea when the backup power system would start supplying electricity again.

    The ground crew gave priority to repairing the main takeoff andnding runways, while a "Big Mouth Monster" with an electronic reconnaissance pod hung near the Aircrew Base, having luckily survived because it was at a distance from the center of the EMP burst.

    "Get the base cleaned up fast. When can thebat nes in the hangar be fixed? I can only give half an hour to the maintenance crew at most. Send a signal to the ''Big Mouth Monster'' in the sky, tell it toe down and report its situation immediately. The battle is not over, do not rx," she ordered.

    Themunication breakdown caused by an EMP burst had still not been restored, with the female executive manager Hanna Gagel issuing orders with a shout, not having a moment to rest.

    Having just shed head-on with Battle Qi using her Wind-type Special Ability, she had taken some losses, however slight. Her internal organs felt as if they were on fire, causing incredible difort, but at this moment, she dared not rest, relying solely on her willpower to persist.

    Her gaze shifted,nding on Chen Fei, as she looked at his chest and spoke with full force, "You, Chen Fei, are you dead or what? If you''re not dead, hurry up and go help the mechanics crew."

    "No, not dead, I''ll go right now!"

    Following her gaze, Chen Fei looked down and saw the tactical dagger stuck in his chest. He quickly pulled it out and shoved it into his mouth.

    System: Ding! Absorbed S2 tool steel, 22 grams,position: Iron 96.55%, Silicon 1%, Carbon 0.65%, Manganese 0.5%, Molybdenum 0.5%, ...

    System: Ding! Absorbed S2 tool steel, 15 grams,position: Iron 96.55%, Silicon 1%, Carbon 0.65%, Manganese 0.5%, Molybdenum 0.5%, ...

    The fact that Chen Fei had pulled out the dagger unscathed made Hanna Gagel secretly breathe a sigh of relief. His Metal Elemental Psychic Power was truly impressive, almost like having an Immortal Body.

    Even though his performance in the battle was rather poor, he had ultimately survived.

    Chen Fei was about to head to the hangar to lend a hand, but then he saw an old Neanderthal tribesman sitting cross-legged on the grass not far away, head bowed, leaning on a "Blood Spike," looking very odd.

    Unconsciously, he walked over, faintly hearing the Old Master muttering something.

    Chen Fei hurried over to take a look and tentatively asked, "Grandpa Barut, are you alright?"

    The battle just now was fiercely fought. The Earth Element Warrior was unexpectedly strong, and both Old Master Barut and Manager Hanna could not manage to detain him.

    He was a bit worried about the old man''s state.

    "In life, wee with nothing, and we leave with nothing, unable to take anything with us! Little Chen, you must take good care of yourself in the future."

    The old Neanderthal tribesman Barut slowly raised his head, hisplexion rosy, but the once zingly crimson tattoos appeared dim and were even inexplicably tinged with a sense of decay.

    Being used to seeing him every day, Chen Fei suddenly noticed something amiss, focused his gaze, and, with the aid of the illuminating re''s light, saw the trickle of blood oozing from Old Master Barut''s chest.

    The old man had after all been injured.

    No matter how mighty one had been, now age was taking its toll. A y pot cannot stay unbroken on the well''s edge forever, and a general cannot avoid death in front of the battle lines; in such intensebat, injuries were inevitable.

    "Come..."

    Just as Chen Fei was about to call for help, he was gripped by Barut''s hand, which gently shook its head.

    "No need to call! It''s not necessary!"

    "Are you alright? I''ll call someone to treat your wounds."

    "Alright? Yes, nothing''s wrong anymore, nothing at all."

    The Old Master still shook his head, indifferent to the injuries suffered, he sighed deeply and then said, "The glory of the Neanderthal tribe is finallying to an end; it is time for it to end."

    "What ising to an end?"

    Chen Fei felt that the old man was acting strangely, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what was off.

    Suddenly, Barut said, "Little Chen!"

    His eyes gradually became brighter, staring at Chen Fei until he felt a chill in his heart, forcing himself to stiffen up and say, "Grandpa Barut, whatever it is, please just say it."

    "Ever since I met you, you''ve always been skirting the line between life and death. I have a gift for you, though I don''t know if it will be a good or bad thing."

    The mes seemed to be burning in Barut''s eyes.

    "As a younger, I dare not refuse the gift of an elder. Whatever you give me, Old Master, I will take good care of it," said Chen Fei, while still trying to find an excuse to call a doctor.

    He began to feel an inexplicable unease.

    "I taught you the stance, the breathing techniques, so I might as well give you thest thing too."

    The hand that tightly grasped Chen Fei''s suddenly became scorching hot but showed no intention of letting go. Instead, it gripped even more firmly. Old Master Barut''s War Patterns suddenly lit up without warning, each line bursting into bright red light, exceptionally blinding.

    The blood-red tattoos that bloomed with dazzling light weren''t static; they started to flow as if alive, gathering from all over Barut''s body to his shoulders, down his arm, and wrist, forming a scorching torrent that coursed through his aged and withered fingers and surged into Chen Fei''s body.

    "What''s happening?" Chen Fei yelled in shock.

    "Hey, hey, hey, Old Master, what are you doing?"

    He himself began to glow, enveloped in a sinister red light from head to toe.

    But the Neanderthal tribesman still held on tightly to Chen Fei, refusing to let go, his eyes so wide that they bled, unleashing all his life force and bellowing with all his might, "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!"

    As his words ended, the red glow that had enveloped Chen''s body suddenly dimmed as if it had never been there at all.

    With his heart racing, Chen Fei finally broke free from Barut''s grasp. When he came to his senses, he discovered that the old man before him had lost all signs of life, only his furious, wide-eyed expression remained.

    "Old Master?"

    Chen Fei could hardly believe it.

    Damn it, he had just been talking, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone!

    He quickly noticed that the blood-red War Patterns on the old man''s body had disappeared, leaving only wrinkled and scarred withered skin.

    In life, wee with nothing, and we leave with nothing, unable to take anything with us...

    System: Ding! New skill "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" discovered (Note: Only with a resolve to die can one find a way to live).

    -

 Chapter 97: Section 97 - Enemy Approaching

    Unable to ept it, Chen Fei pressed his head against Barut''s chest, listening intently but hearing none of the sounds he desperately wanted to hear.

    The old man had not only stopped breathing, but his heartbeat had ceased as well.

    Chen Fei instantly panicked,id the old man t and began performing CPR, hoping for a miracle.

    "Hey, hey, hey, old man, you can''t die now! It''s not your time to die yet."

    But it was no use; it was as if the spark of life had left the body of this elderly Neanderthal, beyond any hope of return.

    "Hey! Stop wasting your effort; he should have died thirty years ago!"

    The voice of Executive Manager Hanna Gagel arose behind Chen Fei, who was still pressing down on the old man''s chest.

    As an elite warrior tasked with guarding the Neanderthal tribe''s Supreme Council, Barut was fortunate to have survived this long, considering that more elite warriors had perished in the final battle. No matter how mighty the Twelve Overlord Tribes were, they too were annihted under the joint forces of the Blue Star and Cangqiong Star civilizations, ceasing to exist.

    She continued, "Barut was thest warrior of the Neanderthal tribe. To die on the battlefield was a fitting end for him."

    Chen Fei finally stopped moving, epting that he was exerting futile efforts, for death is as extinguishing amp.

    "Is he really dead?"

    He felt an inexplicable urge to cry, yet tears wouldn''te.

    Hanna Gagel sighed and said, "The Neanderthal''s Secret Technique is powerful but too domineering, harming for harm, life for life. At his age, this was probably thest time he burnt his life. Even if he hadn''t been injured, he wouldn''t have long to live. For a warrior, having the chance to die on the battlefield at the end of one''s life is indeed fortunate."

    A true warrior dying of old age or sickness in bed at home, that is the real sorrow.

    The executive manager was quite understanding of Barut''s final thoughts but was even more envious and jealous of Chen Fei''s good fortune in inheriting the Neanderthal tribe''splete Secret Technique.

    Before this, she had thought that due to racial differences, the Neanderthals couldn''t pass on their Secret Technique to Homo Sapiens descendants, even the War Patterns had to be obtained through handmade tattoos using special materials.

    It turned out that not just the executive manager, probably everyone was mistaken.

    Now that the War Pattern inheritance hadpletely ceased for the Neanderthal tribe, no more brave and skilled warriors could emerge. This was also the result of covert maniptions by various sovereign nations of the Blue Star.

    No one wished for any more misguided individuals to emerge from the remnants of the Third Era Civilization, attempting a resurgence, forcing the Neanderthal tribe to fully integrate into the Blue Star Civilization. This was an oue beneficial to all.

    Chen Fei, a Homo Sapiens descendant, having unexpectedly received the Neanderthal''s War Patterns and Secret Technique, posed a significantly smaller potential threat, basically indistinguishable from an Ability Awakening.

    Before Chen Fei could say anything, he heard Manager Hanna roar.

    "Had enough of feeling sad? Now, hurry up and get to work!"

    The next second, the world spun around.

    In order to ensure that everyone at the Aircrew Base could safely make it through this ordeal, the executive manager wouldn''t allow too much mourning¡ªbetter put those worthless tears away early.

    Thump!

    Chen Fei fell hard to the ground, grimacing as he looked up to find himself thrown inside the hangar doors, immediately spotting the chief mechanic.

    This evening, attending to various physicalndings, was indeed too strenuous.

    Big Brother Xiao spoke in a calm tone, "Hurry up and change your clothes. All the ''Big Mouth Monsters'' need their ignition coils and fuses reced."

    The EMP had not only written off most of the electronic equipment inside the 911 Aircrew Base, but even thebat aircraft weren''t spared. However, due to their inherent electromaic protection capabilities, the damage wasn''t too severe.

    The condition of the two jet engines was slightly better, yet the ground GPUs for auxiliary ignition were down, turning the power supply trucks into piles of scrap metal. The MiG-28s, unlike the "Big Mouth Monsters," could not self-ignite and were idly waiting on the apron.

    Now, the limited avable manpower had to first ensure that the more numerous ''Big Mouth Monsters'' regainedbat effectiveness as quickly as possible.

    Today, what 897 Aircrew Base had experienced earlier was now to be endured first-hand by 911 Aircrew Base.

    Chen Fei had no time toin; he wrapped a piece of Magic Robe fabric around his waist, wiping the dirt from his body, then quickly slipped into a new work uniform and ran into the working area.

    Several A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft were already waiting there. There were no major issues, just that they wouldn''t start, and some broken circuits, even if not reced, would pose no serious problems.

    Being able to ascend and fight was what truly mattered.

    Moreover, militarybat aircraft weren''t as fragile as many imagined.

    Outside the working area, a heap of equipment awaited urgent repair; it wasn''t just the mechanics bustling about¡ªalmost everyone was busy, even the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance"bat flight squadron, doing whatever preparation they could.

    Even if the radar systems hadn''t failed, it was foreseeable that the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium, having initiated the attack, would not miss this opportunity to strike you down when you''re weak.

    Once the 911 Aircrew Base recuperated, this battle would not be so easily fought.

    "Aircraft 211 is repaired and ready for takeoff."

    With a whoosh, the lights on the hangar ceiling simultaneously came on, their glow instantly dwarfing the light from the oilmps as the backup power system finally began functioning properly.

    Cheers erupted throughout the hangar, signaling that the situation was starting to improve.

    Not only the hangar but other areas also brightened up.

    A buzz emanated from the main runway as the remaining turboprop aircraft eagerlynded while bringing important reconnaissance information, 18 enemy aircraft had taken off from the 909 Aircrew Base and were estimated to arrive in 20 minutes.

    --------------------

    Combat Information:

    Direction 255

    Distance 115 km

    Altitude 8500 meters

    Number 18

    Speed 0.4 Mach

    Read chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin

    Identified as A-39B "Big Mouth Monster"

    --------------------

    The air raid rm that had been repaired urgently immediately went off.

    An air attack was imminent.

    "Aircraft 212 repaired, ready for take-off."

    "Aircraft 213 repaired, ready for take-off."

    Good news kepting.

    Chen Fei, ripping off the data cable and finishing the self-check, pped the repair hatch loudly and reported, "Aircraft 214 repaired, ready for take-off."

    This chaotic busyness had fortunately not caused any dy.

    It was all thanks to Big Brother Xiao for personally teaching him to disassemble the "Big Mouth Monster," otherwise it would mostly have been botched.

    "Aircraft 216 repaired, ready for take-off!"

    Excluding the recently returned "Big Mouth Monster" of Aircraft 215, all six turboprop aircraft of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were fully revived and fully armed with aerialbat ammunition.

    "Enemy estimated to arrive in 5 minutes, ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, attack!"

    The ammunition team immediately pulled out the safety plugs of the mounted weapons.

    "Aircraft 211 starting air supply, electric power support can only maintain for five minutes."

    A MiG-28 on the apron direction shed fire from its tail, unleashing a huge roar.

    Unexpectedly, despite the ground support equipment being damaged, the maintenance team forcibly substituted other methods, enabling a MiG-28 to be ready in hot standby status.

    Chekhov Big Bear, who was about to board Aircraft 211, did not hesitate to leave this turboprop behind and sprinted toward the apron.

    Chen Fei yelled from behind.

    "Hey hey, squadron leader, where are you going?"

    "I''m taking care of 201, you take care of 211!"

    Chekhov, without turning his head, irresponsibly waved and ran off, beyond calling back.

    Ugh, such a scoundrel!

    In the imminent aerialbat, jet aircraft obviously had the advantage.

    "Rookie, you''ll have to pilot Aircraft 211 alone."

    Inside Aircraft 212 not far away, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, preparing to ignite the engines, loudly spoke, "From now on, I''m the lead aircraft, you are the wingman, keep close to me!"

    The two-seater "Big Mouth Monster" could ideally amodate two pilots, but it seemed there was no problem operating it with one person inbat.

    To ensure thebat capability of Aircraft 212, Irinei Rusios had not recklessly made Chen Fei her co-pilot, as her coordination with the fire control operator of Aircraft 212, "Nutmeg" Sman Francis, allowed them to smoothly deploy some powerful tactics.

    Moreover, everything teachable had been taught; only the final step of taking off was left.

    As forbat, that must be learned with life at stake!

    It was an inevitable circumstance.

    At this critical moment, no one would overlook any avablebat power, even if it was a rookie, they had to grit their teeth and go for it.

    "Eh? Me???"

    Chen Fei pointed at himself doubtfully.

    He had only flown in video games, crashing eight times out of ten, can you believe it?

    "Stop dawdling, take off now!"

    Yamada Yuhu, a pilot of Z-9 armed helicopters, along with a few other Z-9 pilots, forcefully crammed thed into the front seat of Aircraft 211''s cockpit and thoughtfully pressed down the cockpit hatch, almost went so far as to weld him shut inside.

    -

 Chapter 98: Section 98 - Night Battle at an Altitude of 8000

    Hey, hey, you bunch of bastard cakes, I''ve finally seen through you.

    Chen Fei sat in the cockpit, feeling a bit lost.

    Aside from video games, he''d never actually taken off by himself before!

    He saw the nearby No. 212 start its turboprop, and the short-haired girl in the front seat made direct gestures to him, unmistakably pointing outside the hangar.

    Damn it, I can only bite the bullet and go.

    First step, fasten the seatbelt.

    Second step, put on the helmet.

    Third step, open themunication channel.

    "Rookie, are you ready?"

    As soon as the connection was made, he heard the voice of Irinei Rusios.

    A jet roared past on the main runway with a huge rumbling sound, lifted its nose, and pierced straight into the sky.

    Chekhov Big Bear had run first, leaving behind the entire "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron!

    Several other A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft followed closely onto the runway, taking off one after another in a race against time to secure air superiority for the 911 Aircrew Base.

    "Ready."

    Chen Fei ignited the engine, and the nose turboprop spun rapidly, the vibration transmitted to the fusge quickly reaching a bnced state.

    The PT6A series turboprop engine, optimized over decades, was a mature technology with very few drawbacks, fuel-efficient, high output, reliable quality, and stable performance.

    The five propeller des stirred the air at high speed, easily propelling the 3.5-ton fully loaded aircraft.

    The control towermunication hadn''t been restored yet, but someone was standing near the turboprop aircraft, holding up arge whiteboard for the pilots in the cockpit to see.

    Direction 253 (just south of due west)

    Distance 65 kilometers

    Altitude 8800 meters

    Number 18

    Speed 0.4 Mach

    Identified as A-39B "Big Mouth Monster"

    IFF Code: 911-33585#

    "You hurry up and follow, I''ll be watching you, be brave."

    With the voice of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, No. 212 slid out of the hangar, gaining speed.

    On the main runway, the taking off turboprop aircraft''s wingtip beacon lights flickered red and green, diving into the night sky.

    "Damn it, let''s do this!"

    Read thetest on mvl

    Chen Fei gritted his teeth, increased the throttle output, and controlled the "Big Mouth Monster" to glide forward slowly.

    The worst-case scenario was another physicalnding, but this time he had a parachute, so it wouldn''t be too bad.

    Ever since he confirmed he was impervious to swords and guns, his courage had grown substantially; he was no longer the obedient child from a little over a month ago.

    There''s something toxic about this ce, the 911 Aircrew Base!

    Luckily, the ground crew knew he was a real rookie; they guided him the whole way and even had whiteboards with written instructions to caution him. Slowly, No. 211 "Big Mouth Monster" glided towards the waiting area of the main runway for takeoff. It was thest one, so there was no need to worry about other fighters rushing him from behind.

    Chen Fei didn''t dare to go fast, fearing a little tremble of his hand would send him crashing into the grasnds, which would be quite the spectacle.

    Combat damage and self-inflicted damage werepletely different things, and he really couldn''t afford a "Big Mouth Monster."

    Especially at this critical moment, damaging a ne before the fight even started would probably make Manager Hanna want to hang Chen Fei up and whip him to death.

    Aligning the nose, he slowly pushed the throttle to the max. The strong thrust pinned Chen Fei to his seat, and the speedometer began reading: 30 km, 60 km, 80 km, 120 km, 170 km, 230 km, 300 km¡­ pull the stick!

    The artificial horizon began to tilt, and the altimeter rapidly climbed. After breathing a slight sigh of relief, Chen Fei finally caught sight of the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" circling above the 911 Aircrew Base, waiting for him.

    "Good job, Rookie, keep climbing; we will follow you!"

    The encouraging voice of "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios entered Chen Fei''s ears.

    Although the takeoff was somewhat sluggish and not crisp, at least it was a smooth takeoff.

    "What''s the altitude? Where''s the squadron leader?"

    Chen Fei had no choice but to maintain the angle of pulling back on the stick, keeping the No. 211 "Big Mouth Monster" in a steep, high angle of attack as it climbed. After all, safety came first.

    He took a moment to nce down at the ground; the sparse lights within Aircrew Base 911 simultaneously dimmed intoplete darkness.

    After thebat pilots had collectively taken to the skies, the entire base entered ckout conditions, with all ground personnel prepared for air defense.

    "Climb to 9,100 meters, don''t worry about ''Peanut Butter''; he''s going solo!"

    As Irinei Rusios responded, she maneuvered her No. 212 aircraft to closely follow behind Chen Fei''s No. 211 craft on its left rear.

    Besides the No. 215 aircraft, the other four "Big Mouth Monsters" were trailing behind her No. 212 machine.

    Before gaining enough altitude advantage, they would not consider directly engaging the enemy.

    "This is 215. The enemy has split their forces, the first group heading 210, at an altitude of 7,500 meters, 40 kilometers away; the second group heading 290, at an altitude of 8,000 meters, 45 kilometers away."

    The No. 215 "Big Mouth Monster," equipped with electronic reconnaissance pods, had refueled and rearmed on the ground and was still airborne for early warning, providing timely battlefield intelligence to fellowrades.

    Through the battlefield data link, each "Big Mouth Monster" was able to confirm the location, speed, and altitude of both friend and foe.

    An EMP st had created argemunication ckout area, preventing the enemy formation from realizing that the air force power from Aircrew Base 911 had already entered the stage, striving to seize the altitudinal advantage.

    A sh of light in the distance briefly illuminated half of the night sky.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios excitedly said, " ''Peanut Butter'' scored."

    Despite the enemybat formation''s overwhelming numbers, three timesrger than the forces of "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, victory in the skies isn''t determined by mere numbers; high-speed,rge maneuvers are enough to ovee numerical inferiority. As long as no mistakes are made, the full armament carried by the "Big Mouth Monsters" would suffice to teach the opposition a lesson.

    Another sh followed, and various sized mes slowly fell towards the ground.

    Even with favorable high-altitude weather conditions, sparse clouds, and an exceptionally bright moonlight, it was still somewhat difficult to discern clearly.

    A squadron of enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" heading toward Aircrew Base 911 was caught off guard by MiG-28 fighters acting with surprise and suffered heavy losses on the spot.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov might have had an unsavory reputation, but his professional qualities were outstanding; otherwise, he wouldn''t have be a squadron leader whomanded the respect of every pilot.

    The enemy "Big Mouth Monsters," divided into two groups, had two of their aircraft knocked out on the spot. The MiG-28 did not engage in prolongedbat, striking once and swiftly departing with a resounding boom like thunder rolling across the sky.

    Turboprop aircraft had no chance of catching up to the afterburner-supersonic jet aircraft. The eleration speed of the MiG-28 is more than three times the maximum speed of the "Big Mouth Monster," resulting in an almost certain rout.

    No wonder Squadron Leader Chekhov had unhesitatingly chosen the MiG-28 as his mount for battle.

    After several aggressive interjections, the enemy "Big Mouth Monster" squadron was scattered like birds and beasts,pletely losing their tactical formation.

    The adversaries had not anticipated that Aircrew Base 911 could organize an air force to meet them in battle after a decapitation strike by an elite team from the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium.

    Aircrew Base 909 and the military contractors behind it had heard that the Meman Brothers United had sent a Human Order of intermediate rank War Professional, a low-ranked Mage, and two supernatural power users of E-grade or higher, along with a team of Elite Warriors equipped with Optical Invisibility Equipment.

    Such a force attacking Aircrew Base 911 would have been unstoppable by Aircrew Base 909 itself.

    "Now at an altitude of 9,100 meters, guidanceplete, 21 kilometers to the target, about to enter visual range, lock on target!"

    Acting temporarily as an early warning aircraft, No. 215 took up its tactical role. Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Chekhov dealt with one enemy formation; their six "Big Mouth Monsters" would take on another enemy formation.

    Although it wasn''t really an early warning aircraft, after being equipped with electronic reconnaissance pods, it acquired some rtively simple functions such as guiding firepower, locking onto multiple targets, and collecting dynamic battlefield trajectories, which were then shared with other fighters through the battlefield data link.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios shouted over themunication channel, "Everyone aim at their targets, FOX1, three, two, one, fire!"

    Afterpleting their climb, Chen Fei, now in a wingman position, and the other pilots pressed theunch button together.

    The aircraft shuddered, and two programmablebat bombs disengaged from their pylons, their tails igniting into intense mes, propelling the projectiles rapidly forward. Beforeunching, the multi-mode seeker head could select modes: FOX-1 (semi-active electromaic guidance), FOX-2 (infrared guidance), FOX-3 (active electromaic guidance), or FOX-L ser guidance).

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, now like a mystical unpredictable loner, left the deputy squadron leader¡ªa short-haired girl¡ªtomand the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s turboprop aircraft formation inbat.

    "Everyone break off, heading 360, altitude 7,000!"

    With the No. 215 acting as an early warning aircraft, the tactics became rtively unexciting.

    Once the missiles were fired, they shifted position without dy, preparing for the second wave of attack.

    This kind ofbat was utterly about striking first to gain advantage; those who reactedter suffered.

    With two volleys ofbat bombs sent their way, at least half of the opposing "Big Mouth Monster" squadron would be wiped out.

    Turboprop aircraft can''t even catch up with jet fighters, let alone missiles; the hit rate of missilesing head-on would be terrifyingly high.

    By the time the enemy detected the missile lock signals, the exhaust and trail had entered visible range, and the nine enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" immediately fell into disarray, releasing theirbat bombs in a panic.

    Unfortunately for them, there was no lock-on, and the "Genuine Fragrance" "Big Mouth Monsters" had already taken the opportunity to flee. This counterattack amounted to a futile effort.

    As for No. 215, hanging with an electronic reconnaissance pod and still in the middle of guidance:e at me if you dare.

    An early warning aircraft is, in some ways, a low-power EMP. It''s not good for much, but it reigns supreme when ites to creating disturbances.

    The oing missiles quickly became disoriented, darting about like headless flies, and after exhausting their propent, they self-detonated high in the sky.

    As expected, one of the turboprop aircraft formations from Aircrew Base 909, split in two, lost four aircraft to the first wave of missiles and another two to the second wave.

    The nine enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" lost more than half of their number without even catching sight of an adversary.

    -

 Chapter 99: Section 99 - The Four Primary Colors View

    "Big Mouth Monster" VS "Big Mouth Monster," when performance doesn''t offer an overwhelming advantage, having the initiative and discipline bes even more important.

    Other than aircraft number 215, which acted as an early warning aircraft, the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron still prioritized formation tactics, with not even a thought of individual heroism and going solo.

    It was sheer ignorance to show off and pick a solo fight when clearly at a numerical disadvantage¡ªit was simply not knowing how to spell "death."

    What''s worse, there was one who was dragging the team down, truly frustrating!

    "Rookie, maintain formation; don''t fall behind!"

    Even during maneuvers, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios kept her eyes on this true Rookie.

    Fortunately, the kid was performing adequately, not causing her too much concern.

    But she couldn''t help wondering whether bringing this young man with no realbat experience to the battlefield was a good thing or a bad thing.

    To the short-haired girl, Chen Fei''s aplishment in killing a Metallic Dragon was just an ident, and it was actually the result of the whole team''s cooperation; it couldn''t be entirely attributed to one person.

    Don''t believe it? Let him try going one-on-one by himself, and if he can survive in the sky for 5 seconds, she''d consider it her loss.

    "I''m following!"

    Chen Fei could only confirm the positions of friend and foe fighters through the constantly blinking beacon lights on wingtips and the battlefield data link marks; otherwise, he''d lose sight of his allies in the blink of an eye with just the faint moonlight outside.

    He had to be extra cautious at this point, concentrating, and intently following aircraft number 212, the lead aircraft, for fear of getting lost.

    It might have been a bit easier during the day, but it just had to be night, and not just any night, but the middle of the night.

    Uh, wait, let''s check the Skill Shop first.

    File Management Plugin: 120 Energy Points

    Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points

    Evolution elerator Level 0 (0-9 levels): 500 Energy Points

    Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Particle Beam (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Microwave Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points

    Energy Storage Upgrade (+5000): 5000 Points

    Magical Array Evolution Database: 500 Energy Points

    Elemental Dposition: 300 Energy Points

    Elemental Synthesis: 300 Energy Points

    Metal Shaping: 100 Energy Points

    ...

    The list inside the "Skill Shop" spanned about a dozen pages and was constantly being updated. Because there were far too many, he usually didn''t have time to examine them closely.

    Among the mass of skills he couldn''t afford, a few superfluous ones were mixed in. It''s not about the most expensive being the best, but the most suitable.

    Chen Fei had barely managed to save up just over three hundred Energy Points, which he couldn''t afford to squander.

    Select "Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points"

    Purchase!

    Energy Points -200!

    Energy Points: 111/5000

    My Skills:

    1. Metal Devouring

    2. Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes 1 Energy Point,sts for 15 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds)

    3. Physical Evolution Database (2), Category: None/Management... (Longsword, Dagger)

    4. Secret Technique: Fight to the Death

    5. Basic Optical Observer Level 1 (Level 2 requires 100 Energy Points)

    Old Master Barut really treated him well, having given him a Secret Technique skill for free, not requiring Energy Points, while the "Basic Optical Observer" for which Chen Fei had spent 200 Energy Points was a trap, starting at Level 1 and demanding more money (Energy Points) to upgrade.

    Load "Basic Optical Observer."

    With just a blink, the world in front of Chen Fei looked noticeably different. The colors became more vibrant, even the night sky outside the cockpit cleared up a lot, revealing many things he hadn''t seen before.

    "Wow!~"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but sigh in amazement, the visual effect was truly instantaneous.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios casually asked, "What did you find?"

    Chen Fei squinted his eyes slightly and casually reported what he had just seen, "Two missiles, headed for Aircraft 215!"

    Experience tales at mvl

    He found that when he squinted, the visible distance would greatly increase, and things in the far distance became as clear as if he was using a high-power telescope.

    It seemed that the "Basic Optical Observer" was not only able to provide him with richer details and a clearer field of view but also possessed some additional functionalities.

    "Understood!"

    Aircraft 215, equipped with an electronic reconnaissance pod, served as the temporary early warning aircraft for the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Facing two missiles was a piece of cake for her, so "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios didn''t take it to heart.

    "It''s anti-radiation missiles, I have to shut down for a moment."

    Fire Control Operator "Basil" Marcus Yiman''s voice suddenly sounded in themunication channel; he was in control of all the functionalities of the electronic pod.

    Anti-radiation missiles were always the nemesis of radars, able to follow the direction of electromaic wave emissions upstream to their source. Aircraft 215 with its electronic pod was like a lighthouse in the night, directing the iing anti-radiation missiles to it with seasoned familiarity.

    The best way to deal with anti-radiation missiles was to shut off the electromaic wave source as soon as possible and then change one''s position, causing the missiles tracking the emissions to lose their target and ultimately miss.

    The Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron''s Aircraft 215 did just that, but shortly after it changed course, another missile followed as if it had eyes, exploding into a strange purple-blue fireball just over ten meters away.

    "Hiss..."

    A piercing screech erupted across themunication channels of friends and foes alike.

    Chen Fei frowned; what situation was this?

    But themunication channel was still full of static noise, and it took several seconds to quiet down again.

    The battlefield data link was inexplicably disconnected and could not be re-linked.

    "It''s EMP! Anti-radiation missiles coupled with an EMP attack!"

    Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios'' voice sounded again in themunication channel, she immediately guessed what the sudden screech was all about.

    Due to the considerable distance, themunication equipment of the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" managed to survive.

    Chen Fei looked in the direction of Aircraft 215 and squinted slightly, extending his vision, and immediately saw the powerless rotating propeller of the "Big Mouth Monster" drawing a curve as it plummeted to the ground.

    The cockpit canopy violently blew off, and two pilots ejected in quick session, one after the other.

    Chen Fei reported immediately, "Aircraft 215 is out of control and crashing, both pilots have ejected."

    "Thank goodness. Huh? Rookie, can you see that?"

    The short-haired girl in the front seat of Aircraft 212 looked around the cockpit to the outside but failed to see the falling silhouette of Aircraft 215, nor did she see the ejected pilots.

    Because the nightcked sufficient light to illuminate the sky, the visible distance at night was much shorter than during the day.

    In the clear skies of the day, one could easily see over twenty kilometers, but at night, being able to spot a target seven or eight kilometers away was already cause for gratitude.

    Whether it''s night flying or night fighting, pilots trust their control panels more than their own eyesight.

    Eyes can sometimes deceive, but instruments and gauges never do.

    Chen Fei honestly replied, "I can see it, quite clearly."

    He could clearly see whether the propellers of Aircraft 215 were rotating or not, even the speed of rotation, without any effort at all.

    "Now, we can only rely on ourselves."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sighed, the advantage they had finally gained was lost with the two missiles.

    "''Devil Pepper,'' count the kills. I''ve got three, uh, four down on my end."

    "Peanut Butter" Chekhov, who had been maintaining radio silence, finally made a sound in themunication channel, and the sound of explosions could be heard.

    The MiG-28s, which could elerate to 1.5 Mach for a surprise attack, were decimating the enemy "Big Mouth Monster" fleet like tigers among sheep, leaving the enemy with no power to retaliate.

    As turboprop aircraft, the "Big Mouth Monsters" could only reach a maximum flight speed of 0.4 Mach. The MiG-28 had at least a threefold speed advantage over them.

    "We''ve taken down six here, lost Aircraft 215!"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios estimated, up to this point, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had taken out more than half of the enemy fighters, and they had only lost one Aircraft 215 serving as an early-warning craft.

    If it weren''t for the loss of Aircraft 215, it would have been a perfect victory.

    The remaining eight enemy turboprop aircraft, whose morale had been crushed, would inevitably be destroyed if they didn''t hurry to retreat.

    "''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, heading 270, altitude 12600 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, eight MiG-28s are approaching your airspace at high speed."

    The familiar voice from the Aircrew Base tower reached the ears of all the pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

    -

 Chapter 100: Section 100 - Death Mission

    The American-made MiG-28 jet fighter is actually just a joke that became reality; the Mikoyan Design Bureau that originally developed it has long since rolled over in its grave.

    The same factory also produced the American-made Jian-8. To make money, the American Federation''s aviation arms manufacturers arepletely shameless.

    Protesting is useless, the patent has long expired, and anyone can freely use it; you can''t win awsuit.

    The main customers for these high-quality counterfeit Li ghosts are powerful private military contractors; whether it''s the original factory''s model or not isn''t important, as long as it can fly, fight, andes with reliable quality and an affordable price, then it''s settled.

    Dragging the real Li Kuis out of the military museum might not even beat these copies.

    But sovereign nations look down on these minor ys with big toys; their national treasure artifacts can only be crystal jets.

    If it weren''t for the difficulty in training qualified Sky Knights, any sovereign force would wish for nothing more than full crystal jet fleets with Sky Knights, holding multiple Sky Cavalry Orders, keeping watch and dominating over all.

    Cough, um!

    Demographics are what they are, take a good look at yourselves, thinking about a fully-staffed Sky Cavalry Order?

    Wishful thinking! Wishful thinking!

    -

    Aircrew Base 911 suddenly tapped into the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''smunication channel, signaling that the groundmunication system and ground-based radar system had finally been repaired and were resuming normal operations¡ªa piece of good news.

    "Eight MiG-28s? They''re after our lives!"

    The fire control operator "Nutmeg" Sman Francis in the backseat of aircraft 212 cried out angrily.

    Not even facing the enemy''s eighteen "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop aircraft and one MiG jet fighter with "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s six "Big Mouth Monster" turboprops had made him lose hisposure as much.

    Fighting against simr turboprop aircraft and fighting against jet fighters arepletely different stories.

    Moreover, the "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop aircraft that took off from Aircrew Base 909 mainly came for bombing purposes and didn''t carry much air-to-air weaponry, which is why they were caught by the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron fully equipped with air-superiority ammunition and got severely beaten up.

    "Really... shameless!"

    Pilot "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear of aircraft 216 couldn''t help but curse.

    He''s usually a silent type; now even the stoic pilot was getting agitated. If you''re brave enough, don''t use jet fighterse fight a duel with turboprop aircraft!

    The odds were against them in numbers and in aircraft performance; the uing battle was going to be difficult. Even with a straight trade of one for one, the result would still be a loss.

    "This is corporate warfare, they are not going to give us any breaks, if we want to survive, we have to beat them!"

    The voice of executive manager Hanna Gagel joined in, as she noticed the change in the pilots'' morale, with everyone shocked and angry, inevitably suffering a hit to their confidence.

    But in the private military contractor business, there are no innocents.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group isn''t run by saints or phnthropists; they too haveunched corporate wars, mercilessly causing heavy casualties and losses to their adversaries, pressing them to the brink of copse.

    The losers in a corporate war usually end up in one state, bankruptcy.

    Under an overturned nest, there''s no intact egg; those killed or wounded on the losing side, apart from insurance, couldn''t even get a penny of war reparations, let alone the current month''s sry and bonuses, and they''d have to risk their lives.

    There are few fortunate ones who can rise from defeat; they are far and few between.

    "Manager Hanna''s right, there''s no escape now, we must fight!"

    The short-haired deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance," "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, involuntarily tightened her grip on the joystick.

    Even if they thought of running, there wouldn''t be a ce to escape to at this critical moment. Their only option was to engage in battle.

    Moreover, if "Genuine Fragrance" squadron ran away, what would happen to those at Aircrew Base 911?

    They could only run on their legs, and there was no chance they could escape far.

    The Merman Brothers United, who dared tounch consecutive attacks, would be relentless, determined to annihte everyst living force of the Apocalypse Defense Group to prevent any hope of resurgence; they would rest only after ensuring everyone was dead.

    "I can draw away two of the MiGs for you, the rest, you''ll have to figure out on your own."

    The voice of squadron leader Chekhov sounded over themunication channel, taking on two by himself, quite literally gambling with his life.

    Even if he wanted to draw away more, the enemy wouldn''t agree.

    If eight jet fighters had two drawn away, that left six. When it came to a one-on-one match, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s "Big Mouth Monsters" were in surplus.

    "The MiG aircraft aren''t as good at low-altitude maneuvering as the ''Big Mouth Monsters.'' We can draw them into low altitude¡ªthe terrain around the base is veryplex and can be fully utilized. The faster they fly, the quicker they die."

    "We need to divide tasks¡ªsome to restrain, some to bait, some to ambush; we can create local superiority, with numbers overpowering the few."

    With a unified mindset, the "Genuine Fragrance"bat flight squadron began brainstorming strategies to face the unavoidable challenge of the eight MiG jet fighters.

    The discussion in themunication channel was soplex that Chen Fei, who had finally caught a break, couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed as he timidly asked, "What about the remaining ''Big Mouth Monsters''?"

    "Don''t worry about them; they''re already retreating. You just need to hold out for another 20 minutes, and the base''s anti-air missiles will be ready tounch."

    Executive manager Hanna Gagel reported another rare piece of good news to the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    Even if the MiG-28 flew very quickly, once locked on by an anti-aircraft missile, there was basically no escape.

    Although there were eight MiG jets, there certainly weren''t as many as the anti-aircraft missiles stored at Aircrew Base 911.

    As long as they could defeat the iing jets, the ones that managed to escape would never pose a threat again.

    "''Peanut Butter,'' take two jets with you, ''Fragrant Orchid'' (unit 213), you''re in charge of containment, try to hold off two jets if possible, ''Dragon Artemisia'' (unit 214), you do the same, contain at least one jet, Rookie, you''re responsible for being the bait, I and ''Scallion Oil'' (unit 216) will cover you.

    As long as we can take down at least two jets right from the start, we''ll be steady in this game."

    After gathering everyone''s opinions, the vice squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios came up with an on-the-spotbat role assignment n.

    "Me? I''m the bait?"

    Chen Fei immediately panicked, with at least two MiG-28s chasing after him alone.

    Even if he were impervious to swords and guns, could there be a way out in such a scenario?

    "I didn''t want to, but there''s no choice, it''s like Shiji''s story of using inferior horses to win the race, you''re the least skilled one, most suited to be bait. If possible, I''d rather take the risk myself than have you do it."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios also felt helpless, acutely aware of the risks associated with being bait, a near certain death.

    But the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was at a disadvantage, and to allow as many people as possible to survive, someone had to make a proactive sacrifice.

    Chen Fei said with a downcast face, "But, but, I have already died at least eight times in this past month!"

    The number eight was just a rough estimate and might not be urate.

    In fact, he had lost count, almost bing numb to the whole experience.

    Executive Manager: "..."

    Chekhov Big Bear: "..."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios: "..."

    Other pilots: "..."

    Now everyone''s numb, you sure have tough luck, to survive all that.

    The word that came to everyone''s mind was: Immortal Body.

    Aside from Chen Fei, who else could take on the task of being the bait?

    It was tailor-made for him, too fitting!

    "Ahem! Little Chen, I can apply for a special bonus of 500,000 Star Yuan for you."

    ©¥©¥(£þ©`£þ*|||©¥©¥Hanna Gagel quickly touched on Chen Fei''s G-spot.

    If it''s just about adding money, approved!

    "Done!"

    (£££þ¡«£þ££) Chen Fei geared up instantly, ready to be bait, for birds die in pursuit of food, but man dies pursuing wealth.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios had prepared a bunch of arguments in her stomach to convince Chen Fei.

    Now it seemed, none of them were needed.

    (£þ¦Ø£þ*)

    -------

    Basic Optical Observer Level 1, upgrade!

    System: Ding! You can choose one of "Low Light Imaging," "Infrared Thermal Imaging," or "Full Spectrum Imaging."

    Chen Fei was momentarily stunned, then without hesitation chose "Low Light Imaging."

    Under the cover of night, Low Light Imaging was obviously the most appropriate choice.

    -100 Energy Points!

    Energy Points: 11/5000

    Chen Fei, this wasteful guy, blew through all 300 energy points he had just gotten his hands on with no hesitation or second thoughts.

    Basic Optical Observer Level 2 (300 energy points needed for Level 3)

    The whole world immediately brightened, looking outside the cockpit, the night sky was almost indistinguishable from daytime.

    Time to take a moment to stand with hands on hips, feeling quite capable.

    <(£þ¦á£þ)>

    -

 Chapter 101: Section 101 - That guy is pretending to be a rookie

    "Enemy aircraft direction 270, altitude 13,500 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, distance 350 kilometers, estimated time of arrival within 20 minutes,"

    After some urgent repairs, aircrew base 911, which had finally restored itsmunication system, once again sent a report.

    The ground-based radar that had been urgently repaired was now running at full power, securely locking onto the approaching group of jet fighters.

    Fortunately, the attackers'' primary target was the Target low-temperature nuclear fusion energy tower. They hadunched an EMP in haste and had not yet managed to destroy the ground-based radar with high-energy bombs, otherwise the situation would have been even more troubling.

    ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s MiG-28 number 215, although not shot down, had an electronic reconnaissance pod with limited power. Its maximum scanning distance of 300 kilometers was already at its limit; any further, and it would be powerless.

    It was not that there were no electronic pods with higher power avable, but the turboprop engines of the ''Big Mouth Monster'' could not support such a high power output.

    If the ground radar at aircrew base 911 had not been repaired in time, they might not even have noticed the eight MiGs approaching right under their noses, and would have suffered a great loss.

    Since the Meman Brothers United Defense Consortium dered corporate warfare with the Apocalypse Defense Group, their n was quite thorough, one step leading to the next, leaving virtually no preparation time for aircrew base 911.

    A ground team equipped with War Professionals, Mages, supernatural power users, and elite warriors collectively wore optical camouge suits and covertly initiated special operations to sabotage the energy tower and even assassinate high-ranking officials.

    The first tactical objective was to seize aircrew base 911 and the vast reserves intact, thus making the Apocalypse Defense Group suffer financially, as the materials transported by the ''Luo Jing Number'' Magic Cube Warship, hired at great cost, were taken by the enemy for free.

    The second tactical objective, if the first was not achieved, was to immediately lower expectations. Eighteen fully loaded ''Big Mouth Monster'' aircraft were already prepared to unload over thirty tons of ammunition onto the entire aircrew base 911,pletely leveling the site.

    After indiscriminate bombing, both manpower and materials would be written off, and the Apocalypse Defense still forced to suffer losses.

    The third tactical objective was that if the ground team failed and the ''Big Mouth Monster'' squadron was intercepted, then it would be the turn of the eight MiG-28 jet fighters to enter the fray. If all schemes failed, it woulde down to a brute force showdown.

    Eight jets against two jet fighters and six turboprops¡ªthe oue was almost certain. Once the air was controlled by ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, they could then take over aircrew base 911 without any obstacles, most likely achieving the first tactical objective again.

    "At least the anti-air missiles will be on time."

    The freshbat ns had all elements well-coordinated, the tide was turning from a reactive to a proactive stance. Vice Squadron Leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, the short-haired "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios felt greatly relieved.

    At least they still had the capability to counterattack, keeping the situation from deteriorating beyond repair.

    "Enemy aircraft direction 270, altitude 14,000 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, distance 260 kilometers, estimated time of arrival within 15 minutes,"

    The ground-based radar of aircrew base 911 firmly locked onto the approaching MiG squadron, continuously reporting their position.

    The battlefield data link was restored once again, switching from the downed number 215 back to the aircrew base, solidifyingmunications.

    "Guys, I''m going first! Ura!~" howled Major Chekhov, the Squadron Leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, over themunication channel.

    Five ''Big Mouth Monster'' turboprop aircraft near MiG-27 number 201 joined in eleration, approaching the eight iing MiG aircraft.

    The tactic of drawing in the enemy depended on careful timing¡ªtoo fast was uneptable as it was tantamount to suicide, too slow would mean the bait was wasted.

    Rushing to attract firepower and failing to sessfully "kite" the enemy would mean getting knocked out at the very start and the entirebat n would fall apart.

    Thus, the pilot executing the initial step had to be bold and skilled, and no one was more suitable than the Big Bear Squadron Leader.

    As the leader of ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron, it was his prerogative.

    A minuteter, the pilot of number 213, Chef Abel''s fellow viger "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane also dropped a line.

    "Fes, I''m heading out first, take care! Rookie, you hang in there!"

    An A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft then broke away from the formation, starting to maneuver closer to the enemy MiG-28 squadron.

    After another minute, number 214 also detached from the formation.

    Left maintaining formation against the MiG squadron were only three aircraft. Numbers 212 and 216 surrounded Chen Fei''s number 211 in the middle.

    "Rookie, it''s just you now, take care!"

    Inside the cockpit of number 212, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios took a deep look at the lonely figure in the cockpit of number 211 and with a push of the joystick, finally broke away from the formation herself.

    The pilot of number 216, "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear somberly said, "Rookie, take care!"

    His Fire Control Operator waved at Chen Fei through the cockpit canopy.

    "You must survive!"

    Number 216 tilted its fusge, deviating from its course, closely following Vice Squadron Leader''s number 212.

    Everyone had to fight hard, not just Chen Fei alone.

    The night sky soon had only one A-39B ''Big Mouth Monster'' light turboprop attack aircraft flying alone, with a solitary pilot in the cockpit.

    Damn, in a blink of an eye, he was left alone.

    Observing enemy and friendly positions ryed by the battlefield data link, Chen Fei''s corners of his mouth twitched, as he tentatively asked, "So... what should I do?"

    Was he just to foolishly head toward the enemy then turn and run, fleeing desperately?

    The female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, coldly said, "You just need to act cute!"

    After ending the call, she picked up a satellite phone from the base''s supplies and dialed a number.

    A few secondster, the call connected.

    "Hello, this is Hanna, prepare a magic potion for me, the Earth Order ''Life Resuscitation''..."

    ...

    "Act, act cute???"

    Chen Fei felt like a big old man putting on a cutesy act, for whom?

    For the heavens?

    -

    "Zero Point" Squadron.

    "''Lone Wolf'' and ''White Bay'' have already given chase, the identity of the target is confirmed, it''s ''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron''s boss, ''Peanut Butter''."

    Listening to the voice of the wingman "Night Wandering God," the Squadron Leader "Titan" of "Zero Point" Squadron replied without any fluctuation in his tone, "Take him down as soon as possible!"

    "Yes, Captain ''Titan''!"

    "We''ll be back soon, Captain!"

    The departing lead and wingman MiG aircraft each responded.

    "Wolf" squad is two against one, if all goes as expected, the battle should end quickly.

    "Direction 133, distance 230 kilometers, altitude 9200, a ''Big Mouth Monster'' detected!"

    "Direction 29, distance 165 kilometers, altitude 8500, also a ''Big Mouth Monster''! What are they trying to do?"

    "Titan''s" wingman had new findings. The response of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron puzzled him, fists clenched only have power, shouldn''t they stick together, concentrating all forces for battle?

    This tactic is truly iprehensible.

    "They are trying to split our forces."

    "Titan," Squadron Leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, chuckled coldly, instantly seeing through the opponent''s tactical intentions.

    Truly naive and ridiculous, including the enemy flight''s call sign.

    He immediately said in a deep voice, "''Tiger'' squad, direction 133, ''Eagle'' squad, direction 29, go quickly and return quickly."

    "''Tiger'' squad, received!"

    "''Eagle'' squad, received!"

    Four MiG-28 jet fighters, in pairs, broke away from the flying formation and darted toward the two targets.

    In their eyes, the two isted turboprop aircraft were like dishes being served up, easily resolved in minutes.

    The wingman pilot under Squadron Leader "Titan" spoke doubtfully, "Uh, ''Titan'', we are splitting our forces, right?"

    Having already exposed the enemy''s intentions, why still fall for it?

    The Squadron Leader''s orders were really baffling.

    "Besides that previous MiG aircraft, the rest are all ''Big Mouth Monsters''. Can''t two jet fighters overpower one turboprop? If they want us to split our forces, then let''s split our forces."

    "Titan" from "Zero Point" Squadron kept chuckling coldly.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron thought that with such clever tactics they could defeat them, which was far too naive.

    How could a turboprop possibly match up to a jet fighter!

    "Captain, there''s another one ahead!"

    The wingman was also somewhat bewildered, finding it incredibly unbelievable.

    Our own superiority in aircraft type and number is clear here; the enemy doesn''t seem to be feigning weakness, but actually is weak!

    The situation of friend versus enemy is as follows:

    "Wolf" squad (two MiG-28s) VS201 aircraft Squadron Leader Chekhov (one MiG-28)

    "Tiger" squad (two MiG-28s) VS213 aircraft (one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster")

    "Eagle" squad (two MiG-28s) VS214 aircraft (one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster")

    For the far-traveling "Zero Point" Squadron, the advantage clearly lies with us, just push through and it''s done.

    Especially since "Titan," the Squadron Leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, and his wingman "Cyclops" have only one lonely "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft ahead.

    On the radar disy, that "Big Mouth Monster" flew straight towards them without dodging, and the Squadron Leader "Titan" of "Zero Point" Squadron scoffed disdainfully, "Hmm, that guy up front is pretending to be a rookie."

    If the opponent''s flight path had strayed even slightly, he might have respected the guy as a real man.

    But now, pretending to be a rookie, can''t he be a bit more subtle?

    Basic Optical Observer Level 2: Low-light enhancement.

    The dim night sky in others'' eyes was surprisingly clear and bright in Chen Fei''s eyes, it almost felt like daytime.

    The enemy''s two MiG-28 jet fighters, upon entering his visual range, also flew straightforward directly towards him without any deviation or initiation of attack, which left Chen Fei somewhat disconcerted.

    "What to do, what should we do?"

    -

 Chapter 102: Section 102 - Dancing with Missiles

    "This is really a rookie, ''Titan'', what to do?"

    The opponent had no response at all, with no intention of starting a fight, which made the wingman pilot "Cyclops" feel somewhat awkward about taking action.

    Too inexperienced. There must be at least a hundred ways to easily shoot down the opponent.

    "Forget it, let him go!"

    But the flight leader of the "Zero Point" squadron, "Titan", was unmoved. With a brief aim, he immediately pulled the trigger of the cannon.

    For such a rookie, it wasn''t worth wasting a missile on him. A few shots and the aircraft would be bursting into mes, which could be seen as giving face.

    In aerialbat, the first task upon spotting an enemy is to strike first. How could one dawdle like the adversary still oblivious to the danger?

    Since such a mistake has been made, it''s alright, not a big deal. Just remember to correct it in the next life.

    Ratatat, a burst of tracer bullets shot out, quickly pouncing towards the approaching "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft.

    The MiG-28''s fire control radar has a detection range of 33 kilometers, providing shot ranging and lead angle calction for the aircraft cannon.

    The effective range of the 20mm caliber aircraft cannon is 2,000 meters, but its actual range is far beyond that.

    The distance of 3,000 meters is reached in an instant.

    The oing A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft slightly shakes its wings... unscathed.

    The flight leader of the "Zero Point" squadron, "Titan": "..."

    His wingman pilot "Cyclops": "..."

    Chen Fei is delighted: "300 energy points, a bargain!"

    Just then, as soon as the MiG aircraft began firing, several fine blue lines shot towards him, startling Chen Fei to reflexively maneuver the joystick, allowing the aircraft to dodge these unknown lines in the nick of time.

    A secondter, the shining tracer bullets followed these blue lines and whizzed past the "Big Mouth Monster", without touching even a hair.

    Chen Fei finally realized that these abruptly appearing mysterious blue lines were predictive trajectories.

    The functionality of the Basic Optical Observer Level 1, initially valued at 200 energy points, is truly unexpected.

    The inexperienced Chen Fei instantly became bolder.

    It''s only right to return the favor.

    You shoot at me, I shoot at you; what was once a bit of trepidation, now became brazen righteousness.

    When he tried to lock onto the MiG aircraft, he heard the voice of the deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios in his ear.

    "Rookie, aren''t you going to run?"

    ording to the originalbat n, Chen Fei''s 211 aircraft should have already been escaping, but the radar detection results shared from the battlefield data link nearly scared everyone witless.

    The distance between the 211 aircraft and those two MiG-28s was even less than 3,000 meters. What on earth were these three fighter nes doing? Dancing the waltz?

    This meant that the jet aircraft could knock Chen Fei''s turboprop out of the sky even without firing, with little damage to themselves.

    Luckily, the radar can''t disy information on aircraft cannon fire, otherwise it would be even more frightening.

    A distance of 3,000 meters is just six or seven seconds for the oing parties.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft directly flew through the middle of the two MiG-28 jet fighter formation, with the three fighter aircraft crossing paths in an instant, allowing the pilots to clearly see each other''s cockpits.

    The "Zero Point" squadron''s flight leader, "Titan," said something rare.

    "This guy is really lucky!"

    With a push on the joystick, the MiG aircraft began to turn.

    This time, there would be no mercy.

    But when the two MiG-28spleted their turn like a textbook maneuver, they discovered that the turboprop aircraft... had slipped away!

    ¦²(¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)¦õ

    And without even looking back at that.

    What the hell!

    ___*(£þÃó£þ)/#____

    With a slight push on the joystick, Aircraft 211 began a full-speed dive, exchanging altitude for speed, and quickly broke 900+ km/h, surpassing the "Big Mouth Monster''s" design speed.

    However, no matter how fast a dive the turboprop aircraft attempts, it was inherently limited and could never break the sound barrier.

    In the midst of firmly holding down the joystick, Chen Fei took the chance to nce around, but he saw nothing.

    The Chekhov Big Bear''s MiG aircraft and the other "Big Mouth Monsters" were all beyond visual range, even exceeding the Basic Optical Observer Level 2''s zoom capability.

    The other pilots who were acting as lures faced pressures and risks not much less than those of Chen Fei.

    Seeing the icon representing Chen Fei on the electronic map speeding away, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios continued to encourage, "Don''t look back, full speed! Watch your altitude, don''t hit the ground."

    What she was most concerned about at this moment was Chen Fei plunging headlong in his dive and being unable to pull up in time when nearing the ground, ending up smacking into it.

    That would be embarrassingly awkward.

    Altitude 6200 meters!

    System: Ding! Dance with the missile for a cumtive 60 seconds, with graceful posture, and gain +200 energy points.

    This damned system responds really fast!

    The new task doesn''t even bother to mention the threat of death!

    Actually, that makes sense. If the task fails, it''s death, isn''t it? No need for unnecessary words.

    Life is brutally practical!

    Before Chen Fei could even start toin, a thick blue line shot from behind, piercing through the "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit and nting towards the ground.

    What is this?

    He stared nkly for a moment and then, panicked, finally realized

    it was probably something even more terrible than the earlier aircraft guns.

    Altitude 5500 meters!

    Without even touching the throttle control stick, he took advantage of the dive''s speed boost, pushed the stick sideways, and the world outside the cockpit spun wildly as he shook off the thick blue line.

    A trail of white smoke passed where the "Big Mouth Monster" had just been, drawing arge arc as it chased after him once more.

    It was a missile!!!

    Chen Fei almost felt an urge to wet himself from fear, thankfully his quick reaction saved him, otherwise, he would have been sted into a fireball.

    Altitude 4800 meters!

    The "Big Mouth Monster" passed through a thinyer of clouds.

    The weather conditions in the night sky were good, and the sparse clouds couldn''t provide enough cover.

    The two chasing MiG-28s were relentless, their fire control radars stubbornly locked onto the "Big Mouth Monster" ahead, and the guidance system didn''t stop.

    Thebat bomb, trailing mes, circled back around, the blue thick line jittering erratically in the sky in front of him.

    All Chen Fei could do was keep his 211 as far away from the predictive trajectory as possible.

    This blue thick line was actually the weapon envelope line of the missile.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft swayed left and right in the night sky, taking full advantage of the turboprop''s maneuverability, which even the MiG aircraft couldn''t match, once again rendering thebat bomb''s attacks ineffective.

    This missile had used up all its chances, and as its propulsion fuel ran out, the missile body activated its own self-destruct before losing momentum, exploding into a noticeable fireball in the night sky.

    The "Cyclops," who had been closely following his squadron leader, couldn''t help but express his amazement: "This guy is so damn lucky."

    The previous round of aircraft guns had missed, and that was fine; it was all about probability after all.

    The deterrent effect of the aircraft guns mattered more than their actualbat value, but thebat missile that should have hit its target had missed, which was truly baffling.

    Supposedly a mere rookie, but as he had just seen, not even a veteran would dare say they could evade missiles with such nonchnce time after time.

    "No! We underestimated him!"

    The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron was the first to admit his mistake.

    Indeed, he had been mistaken.

    The enemy''s missile evasion move, though not a standard maneuver, was incredibly intelligent, always narrowly avoiding the missile''s trajectory.

    A missile that can''t hit its target, no matter how advanced its performance or how powerful it is, is still not a qualified missile.

    Grievedbat bomb: I''m not taking the me for this!

    Inside the cockpit, Chen Fei was panting heavily, his back soaked with cold sweat, he muttered to himself with lingering fear, "Damn it, I finally dodged it."

    System: Ding! Dance with the missile for a cumtive 11 seconds/60 seconds, maintain elegance, gain Energy Points +200.

    His face nearly turned green.

    He had barely managed to dodge it with his life on the line, facing constant danger throughout.

    If the missile hade a few meters closer, it could have triggered a proximity explosion, and 211 would be in immediate danger.

    yingputer games and fighting in real battles are twopletely different things.

    You can restart a game, but real battle costs actual lives, and there are no second chances.

    "You''ve got to hang in there!"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios was truly worried for this rookie¡ªit was too hard!

    But 211 and the two MiG aircraft hadn''t reached the optimal altitude yet, so she and 216 couldn''t show up together just yet.

    More blue thin lines came from behind, with even more quantity and density. Chen Fei quickly pushed the control stick sideways, and the tumbling and yawing "Big Mouth Monster" executed a series of maneuvers, just in time to dodge the deadly hail of bulletsing from behind.

    The 20mm caliber rounds would have instantly shredded the fragile "Big Mouth Monster."

    "This isn''t luck, it''s too weird!"

    "Cyclops" had nearly emptied half his aircraft cannon ammunition, yet he didn''t hit a single target, howling in frustration.

    With two hundred standard rounds, having fired half of them, even with just a one percent chance, he should have hit the target by now.

    Yet the enemy seemed to have divine protection, continuing to fleepletely unharmed.

    "We need to finish it off quickly, something is definitely off, squads report your status."

    The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron sensed something unusual.

    "''Eagle'' Squadron reporting, the enemy target is too cunning, we''re still figuring it out."

    "''Wolf'' Squadron reporting, ''White Bay'' has been taken down, ''Peanut Butter'' is an expert, and I won''t let him go."

    "''Tiger'' Squadron reporting, we''ve wounded the target, we can bring it down in no more than five minutes."

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from the Aircrew Base were indeed the targets of the "Zero Point" Squadron''s mission this time around, and splitting forces for the nned operation wasn''t reckless.

    Despite having a strong hand, the y was a bit unexpected.

    Altitude 3200 meters, the ground elevation was starting to clear up, with the vast mountains seeming almost within reach.

    "It''s time! Rookie, we''ll be there in three minutes!"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, who had been circling nearby, waiting for an opportunity, pulled her control stick, and the 212 cruising at low speed in a canyon soared into the sky.

    -

 Chapter 103: Section 103 - Racing Against Time

    "Beep beep beep..."

    The sound of the fire control radar lock flooded the entire cockpit.

    Chen Fei, seemingly oblivious, focused solely on the altitude meter, the speed meter, and whether there were any blue lines connected to the aircraft.

    Dangery ahead, the enemy behind, leaving no room for distraction.

    Altitude 1800 meters!

    Don''t think that sea level at 0 meters is the ground.

    Wrong!

    Completely wrong!

    On the contrary, at this altitude, the actual position is underground.

    This is a mountainous area, where the highest peaks can reach up to 7000 meters, and the average altitude is generally over 200 meters. One must ount for this difference beforehand, otherwise one second you''re in mid-air, and the next you could be smashing into a mountain, instantly destroying both man and machine.

    If visibility isn''t clear, it''s best to maintain sufficient altitude to ensure flight safety.

    Several fine lines whizzed past the wings, but Chen Fei just gave them a nce, toozy to care.

    A few tracer bullets followed the fine lines with pinpoint uracy, striking the ground and raising striking dust plumes.

    The nearest blue line was less than a foot away from the turboprop aircraft, looking perilously close.

    But that''s just how it looks ¨C scary. If it doesn''t actually hit, it won''t cause any damage. It doesn''t matter if it''s a foot or even a centimeter off; there''s no difference.

    Sometimes the blue lines representing the predictive trajectories do undergo dynamic changes, but the extent isn''t too great, always affording Chen Fei some reaction time.

    Actually, by focusing his attention, he could distinctly feel time slowing down. Bullets and missiles might be fast, but nothing is quicker than the human brain, right?

    Without warning, a thick blue line shot from the front left, piercing through the wing of aircraft 211.

    This time it was a missile!

    Again!!!

    Chen Fei could now distinguish whether the iing threats were aerial machine-gun bullets or missiles, based on the thickness and number of blue lines.

    He felt like cursing. The heart-stopping moments of dancing with missiles had arrived.

    Get wrecked!

    The enemy, disregarding honor, employed a pincer tactic: two jet fighters against a single turboprop ¨C thetter should feel honored.

    They were determined to take Chen Fei down, but thanks to the "Basic Optical Observer Level 2," which never cooled off, he had seen the MiG-28 circling around, preparing to outnk him.

    One at the 10 o''clock position, another at 6 o''clock.

    Still in high-speed dive, aircraft 211 faced the threat of a coordinated attack.

    "Hold on!"

    Irinei Rusios'' voice, nicknamed "Devil Pepper," resounded in his ears again.

    The radar clearly captured the dynamic positions of the three aircraft, making the perilous situation of aircraft 211 unmistakable.

    It didn''t help that Chen Fei was an actual rookie, it being his first mission, and a highly dangerous night operation at that. Aside from the two experienced enemy aircraft, theplex terrain below could im the rookie''s life at any moment.

    What good would being a Metal Ability User do?

    Smashing into the ground at such speeds with the aircraft, no one could expect a positive oue.

    Yet, the entire tactical n had arrived at its most crucial step. The longer Chen Fei could survive, the more he could increase the chances for a turnaround opportunity for aircraft 212 and 216.

    "Don''t worry about me!"

    Chen Fei saw a canyon below, and without hesitation, he pushed the control stick, diving aircraft 211 straight into it without reducing speed.

    The bonus of trading altitude for speed was limited, and not much time was left. Once the temporary speed advantage over the jet fighters was lost, the "Big Mouth Monster" would immediately show its true colors.

    Altitude 1200 meters!

    The onboard terrain radar indicated the canyon was 500 meters deep, with sheer sides, and a winding stream intermittently flowing through it.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft plunged recklessly into the canyon, and the iingbat bombs, finding nothing, soared over the canyon, pulled up high, then turned and dived down again.

    Both parties were using programmable close-rangebat missiles with a range of around 30 kilometers. Within a 5-kilometer radius, there were usually two attack opportunities.

    Another thick blue line dropped from the upper left, piercing through the cockpit again. The returning missile targeted the "Big Mouth Monster" once more.

    Fortunately, the two MiG aircraft didn''t waste their missiles on the "Big Mouth Monster" as if they were free. They pressed Chen Fei''s aircraft 211 into a corner with a methodical tactical rhythm, using cannons and missiles in turn.

    Theplexity of the canyon terrain could provide some cover, but it also limited the "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft''s low-altitude advantage.

    A moment''s carelessness could result in a crash into the cliff without even needing missiles or aircraft cannons.

    Chen Fei had thought about striking back, but the two MiG-28s flown by the enemy were piloted by veterans who gave him no chance to retaliate; they continuously pressured him with attack patterns, forcing him to be on the constant run for cover. Continue reading on mvl

    "Rookie, are you still there?"

    The moment Aircraft 211 dove into the canyon, the ground-based radar at Aircrew Base lost its position, leaving only themunication channel open, which made "Devil Pepper," Irinei Rusios¡ªwho was trying to climb as fast as she could¡ªfrantically worry.

    "''Devil Pepper,'' I''m still here!"

    Chen Fei nced left and right, staying alert.

    Thebat bombs that descended from the sky finally followed the blue predictive trajectory into his field of vision, barely grazing the "Big Mouth Monster" before colliding with the side of the canyon.

    Boom!~

    A fireball erupted amidst flying debris but failed to even touch the tail of Number 211.

    "It didn''t hit!"

    "Cyclops," disappointed with the wastedbat missile, had hoped for a different result.

    "Let''s do it again!"

    The expression of "Titan," themander of the "Zero Point" squadron, grew even more serious.

    This rookie pilot''s erratic flying had no rhyme or reason, yet he managed to evade attack after attack.

    If it was just luck, then this luck was far too good.

    "Cyclops" suggested, "Let''s dive down too!"

    "No! He has toe out eventually."

    Under the cover of night, "Titan" reckoned that even with superior skills, he wouldn''t dare to rashly follow into this unfamiliar canyon.

    He even secretly hoped in his heart that the "Big Mouth Monster" would identally crash and be destroyed¡ªit would save ammo.

    "One more minute, we''re almost there."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios nced at the altimeter, 6700 meters.

    The turboprop aircraft couldn''t climb as efficiently as a jet fighter; without gaining a potential energy advantage through altitude, trying to ambush two jet fighters with two turboprops was a very precarious bet.

    Seeing the rock wall ahead, Chen Fei knew the canyon wasing to an end. He pulled the control stick with all his might and shouted, "I''m doing all I can!"

    One must not rely too heavily on onboard electronic maps and satellite positioning; map recognition is one of a pilot''s basic qualifications.

    Whether it was fromying out WIFI signal rys from Aircrew Base to Teacher Shen Fei''s Patan Elementary School, or following Chekhov Big Bear on a raid against Aircrew Base 897, Chen Fei had spent much time poring over the high-resolution terrain maps near Aircrew Base.

    He had determined the direction and position of the canyon near Aircrew Base 911 and its overall structure upon first discovering it.

    This was his main battlefield for tangling with the two MiG-28 jet fighters.

    As Aircraft 211 reached the end of the canyon, it climbed with all its might, using up thest of its dive''s potential energy. Two thin blue lines approached from both front and back like a huge pair of scissors crossing each other anding in for the "bite."

    Aviation cannon bullets, with their conspicuous tracer colors, arrived as expected, turning the blue lines into a deadly red trajectory of doom.

    Yet the turboprop aircraft seemed to dance in the rain of bullets, performing a flip maneuver, rushing out of the canyon, and then immediately turning back.

    The barrage of cannon fire fell empty, striking the steep slope at the end of the canyon into a cloud of dense dust.

    "It went back in!"

    "Zero Point" squadron''s "Cyclops" was so frustrated he wanted to twist his control stick into a crutch.

    "There''s a ''Big Mouth Monster'' approaching, bearing 120, two of them, altitude 3200 meters."

    "Titan," themander of "Zero Point" squadron, immediately noticed the enemy and friendly identification targets that appeared on the radar screen.

    Two small markers were closing in at a velocity not at all inferior to that of the jet fighters.

    Estimated time to arrive, within 30 seconds.

    Beep beep beep beep!

    "We''ve been locked on!"

    "Cyclops" eximed in rm,

    As he spoke, the markers representing missiles appeared on the radar screen.

    One, two, three, four... Four missiles were closing in at high speed.

    -

 Chapter 104: Section 104 - Masters Compete

    "A trap?!"

    The squadron leader of "Zero Point" Squadron, "Titan," was incredulous.

    A jet and six turboprop aircraft trying to show off in front of eight jets¡ªdidn''t they know that all schemes are useless in the face of sheer power?

    Is this it?

    "Good gracious! Have these guys gone mad?"

    "Titan''s" wingman, "Cyclops," also noticed the two "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft and four swoopingbat bombsing in a high-speed dive.

    The two MiG aircraft chasing unit 211 split perfectly to the left and right, started leveling off, their tails zing with fire as they elerated at full speed to escape the iingbat bombs.

    Even though the performance of a jet surpasses that of a turboprop, getting hit squarely by abat bomb would be just as disastrous.

    "''Scallion Oil,'' head for 270!"

    The deputy squadron leader of "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, immediately identified the one heading in direction 270 as less skilled, unlike the one moving toward 90 who appeared moreposed.

    Being a woman, naturally at a disadvantage, she had earned the recognition of Chekhov Big Bear and other veterans to be the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, and of course, she was no amateur.

    Whether it was tactical nning, flying ability, or insight, she was naturally a cut above the rest.

    "''Scallion Oil,'' message received."

    Like many descendants of the Yin people, the pilot nicknamed "Scallion Oil," Babarro Big Bear, was a formidable but taciturn flyer, pairing with the deputy squadron leader as a temporary wingman without any hesitation orpromise in carrying out hermands.

    The two "Big Mouth Monsters" surged ahead toward the MiG-28 jet fighter piloted by "Cyclops" of the Zero Point Squadron.

    Not thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west¡ªjust a mere three minutes, and the tables turned.

    "Cyclops" finally experienced the frustration of being sandwiched between a missile behind and an enemy aircraft in front.

    Karma strikes fast!

    Yet he dared not be careless, even if the pursuing aircraft were only turboprop machines, which still possessed the potential to bring him down.

    Unless one had a Crystal Jet with both repulsion and magic shields for double protection, any small aircraft hit by abat bomb was bound to be in trouble.

    The era had changed; now, Crystal Jets were the true national treasure artifacts, while jets and turboprop aircraft had be mere toys for private military contractors.

    Can toys be used to revolt and cause chaos?

    It must be a joke!

    If Aircrew Base 911 had a Crystal Jet, not to mention eight MiG-28s, even eighty would stand no chance of escape.

    Although elerating with all his might, "Titan" didn''t rashly pull the stick to climb¡ªclimbing would''ve sacrificed speed, and even with added thrust, the MiG couldn''t shake off thebat bombs. Any maneuver that increased the gravitational pull would just hasten his demise.

    Instead, he could only use tactical maneuvers to exhaust the pursuers'' fuel or use theplex terrain below to lure them into crashing.

    In other words, what unit 211 had done moments ago, this squadron leader of Zero Point Squadron now had to replicate entirely.

    But unlike Chen Fei, who could see the blue predictive trajectory lines, this squadron leader couldn''t, reliant on seven parts skill and three parts luck.

    The two programmablebat bombs, solely guided by their internal programming, alternately rolled and boxed in, rapidly closing in on the MiG.

    If there were an early warning aircraft nearby, abination of the battlefield data link and radar guidance would significantly enhance the cooperation of the two missiles, greatly improving their hit rate.

    Boom!

    A fireball explosively formed behind "Titan''s" MiG jet.

    One missile, unable to evade in time, crashed into the ridge and exploded bitterly.

    "''Cyclops,'' fly head-on towards me, and set the missile to interception mode."

    With the wingman in an even more perilous position, followed by two turboprop aircraft, the squadron leader of Zero Point Squadron made a split-second tactical adjustment.

    After sessfully evading a missile, "Titan" immediately decided on the fly to continuously rock slightly, adding persistent interference to thebat bombs behind him.

    After onebat bomb was tricked into crashing into the mountain, the remaining one suddenly became much less effective at restraining the MiG''s maneuverability.

    "Captain, what do you mean?"

    "Cyclops," struggling to shake off the missile and the two turboprop aircraft behind him, responded with profuse sweating. He vaguely guessed what wasing but couldn''t afford to be distracted, struggling to grasp that glimmer of insight.

    "I''ll take care of the four pests behind you."

    "Titan" adjusted the attitude of his MiG, and his wingman was also ready to cooperate, with the two jets beginning to fly head-on towards each other.

    Being termed as programmablebat bombs, besides being able to adjust guidance modes, they could also select attack types.

    In special circumstances, they could even temporarily act as interception missiles, which for the missile itself only meant differences in range and maneuvering posture, all dependent on the internal target recognition, decision-making, and attack models.

    From breaking formation to flying head-on, within a mere seven to eight seconds, the two jets repeatedly adjusted their tactical ns.

    "What are they trying to do?"

    The fire control operator in the rear seat of MiG number 216, pursuing "Cyclops" along with the deputy leader in unit 2112, noticed the unusual flight trajectories of the two MiGs.

    "They''re trying to..."

    Before "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios could finish, she saw the MiG-28 rushing towards them and the fleeing MiG-28 beneath its wings sh fire repeatedly as four missiles simultaneously screamed forth.

    Meanwhile, the "Cyclops," relentlessly pursued by the two turboprop aircraft, promptly pressed the missileunch button without any hesitation. A programmablebat bomb set to interception mode detached from the mount, its tail zing with bright mes, trailing thick smoke as it rushed toward his squadron leader.

    "Intercepting missile, ''Scallion Oil,'' dodge quickly!"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios shouted aloud.

    Boom!~Boom!~

    Two fireballs exploded one after another behind a MiG-28, but twobat bombs rushed through the lingering smoke, charging toward the approaching "Big Mouth Monster".

    Then another fireball exploded.

    The two opposing jet fighters crisscrossed each other in the sky above.

    IFF enemy identification ensured that self-guided weapons wouldn''t identally hit allies, whether it was "Titan" or "Cyclops"; neither of the MiG-28 pilots worried about hitting their own.

    At that moment, aircraft 212 and 216 of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had just begun to perform evasive maneuvers.

    The squadron leader of "Zero Point," "Titan," made a split-second decision... a crimson trajectory streaked across the sky, heading toward the front of aircraft 216.

    "Damn!"

    "Damn!"

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios and her Fire Control Operator "Nutmeg" Sman Francis turned their heads simultaneously and eximed in unison.

    It''s known that when picking persimmons, one should choose the softest; and this wasn''t only understood by the short-haired girl!

    In a battle between masters, victory or defeat often hinges on a single thought.

    The situation reversed; the squadron leader of "Zero Point" and his wingman suddenly switched from passive to aggressive, and suddenly, the two previously advantaged "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft found themselves in the predicament their opponent was in just moments ago.

    -

    With a series of loud snaps, the aircraft shuddered violently, and the malfunctioning sensor for the tail wing immediately triggered an rm.

    The 20mm caliber machine gun bullets of MiG aircraft were nearly lethal for the "Big Mouth Monster".

    "''Scallion Oil,'' eject!"

    In the shrill urgent rm, "Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati, the rear-seat fire control operator of aircraft 216, pulled the ejection handle instantly.

    The cockpit canopy burst open, ejecting the rear seat first.

    Then, the front-seat pilot "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear also pulled the ejector, sending himself and the seat soaring into the sky together.

    Thebat bomb followed closely, soaring past the two consecutively ejected figures and mming into the out-of-control turboprop aircraft.

    With a sh of fire, it exploded thunderously!

    Unless it is a densely popted area below, pilots will, in an emergency just like this moment, not hesitate to abandon their aircraft.

    It happened slower than it could be told, but quicker than it could be thought, as a series of fire serpents shot into the sky, sweeping from the nose to the tail of the MiG-28 piloted by "Cyclops," plowing fiercely through it.

    Before he even had a chance to rejoice for suddenly escaping twobat bombs and the pursuit of two turboprop aircraft, he was instantly shredded by several 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullets into a mist of blood and flesh inside the cockpit.

    The cannon caliber and power of the "Big Mouth Monster" couldn''t match that of MiG aircraft, but the damage inflicted on the aircraft body was still considerable.

    Boom!~~~~

    The MiG-28, carrying aviation kerosene and remaining ammunition, exploded into an unusually bright fireball mid-air.

    An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft suddenly soared from the darkness of the vast mountains below. Experience exclusive tales on mvl

    5 kilometers away, two parachute canopies gently descended into the night.

    "''Cyclops''! ''Cyclops''?"

    The squadron leader of "Zero Point," "Titan," was shocked to find that his wingman had suddenly lost signal; he looked around and saw the fireball still plummeting toward the ground far away.

    When?

    Who?

    -

    Chen Fei was pressed into his seat by the eleration, tentatively asking, "So, what should I do next?"

    Still in a series of barrel rolls to shake off missiles, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios puzzledly asked, "Rookie?"

    Aircraft 216 had crashed, and just as she was about to feel annoyed, she suddenly remembered there should be another rookie nearby.

    So, what exactly was this guy doing?

    Bang!~

    Thebat bomb finally ran out of energy, exploding a hundred meters behind aircraft 212.

    "''Devil Pepper''! Immediately confirm, has an enemy aircraft been shot down?"

    The ground-based radar at Aircrew Base detected that a MiG aircraft''s signal had mysteriously disappeared, reced by the signal of an allied turboprop aircraft in the same location.

    Can this thing still transform? Mother Hen turns into a duck, enemy turns into ally?

    What kind of a clever move is this?

    Wait! When did rookie''s aircraft 211 move over there?

    Both sides were filled with confusion.

    "It''s me!"

    Young Chen Fei would never admit that he almost got lost while flying super low altitude in the mountains.

    He looked up just to see a MiG aircraft about to fly right over him.

    Then he impulsively pulled...

    -

 Chapter 105: Section 105 - Counterattack

    The price of not blocking the way is...

    "''Cyclops'' got taken down!"

    The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron murmured as if unable to ept this fact.

    The next moment.

    Suddenly, there was a burst of noise on the publicmunication channel.

    "That... whoever you are, if you dare...e and fight me!!!"

    A certain rookie was boasting arrogantly on themunication channel.

    System: Ding! Dance with missiles for 18 seconds/60 seconds, maintain a beautiful posture, gain Energy Points +200

    The task was not yetplete, and having just tasted the sweet deal of the "Basic Optical Observer," Chen Fei loathed to give up these 200 energy points.

    So... dear friend, please stay a while longer!

    "Chen Fei, you''d better head back!"

    The short-haired girl was yelling frantically on themunication channel.

    Having lured these two MiG-28s here and bought enough time, Chen Fei''s mission could be considered as having gone ording to n, and now bringing down another MiG was apletely unexpected gain.

    The tactical value couldn''t be calcted as just swapping a turboprop for a jet fighter.

    Looking at the electronic map position,bined with the positioning information captured by the ground-based radar, it was highly probable that he had snatched a bargain.

    In a situation where the preparedpete with the unprepared, even veterans may capsize in the gutter, let alone in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which is moreplex than any gutter.

    Otherwise, with the rookie''s previous performance, it was already a miracle he wasn''t being chased and howling.

    "Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios had already seen that the original tactical n had been disrupted¡ªthe remaining MiG-28 pilot was certainly not to be trifled with. She herself had to be extremely cautious, yet her opponent had suddenly gambled with a big move by firing fourbat bombs all at once,pletely turning the situation on its head.

    If it weren''t for Chen Fei suddenly appearing out of nowhere and unexpectedly taking down a MiG-28, this battle might have had an unpredictable oue.

    Chen Fei, this genuine rookie, didn''t know when to quit and was deliberately provoking a pilot on the level with Chekhov.

    Usually, for squadron leaders, a wingman is closer than a brother. You killed his brother, and said such things, you''re forcing him into a fight to the death!

    "Kid, I''ve got you in my sights!"

    A chilling voice of "Titan," the squadron leader of "Zero Point," resounded through the publicmunication channel.

    If such deep hatred is not avenged, I swear I am not human!

    The MiG-28 suddenly turned around, its nose pointing directly at Chen Fei''s ne number 211, as if carrying the fury like thunder, throwing the roaring sound of the engine right behind it.

    I''ll kill you!

    "I... woah, he''s reallying!"

    Chen Fei had originally thought that the other side would be magnanimous and let it go, but that guy was as petty as a needlepoint,parable to Chekhov Big Bear.

    In a rush, he frantically turned around and dived down, the vast mountain ridge was my love, and under the lush green mountains "flowers" are about to bloom...

    Big Bear(*£þ(¥¨)£þ): How am I as petty as a needlepoint!? rify that!

    Watching the rookie''s ne 211 being hotly pursued by the boosted MiG-28 yelling, "Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios was almost at a loss whether tough or cry; what on earth was this supposed to be?

    From the rear seat, theughter of the fire control operator "Nutmeg" Sman Francis drifted up; he couldn''t contain himself any longer, pounding on the canopy and bursting into loudughter, nearlyughing himself to death.

    Just as the MiG-28 was closing in on the ne number 211, it suddenly yawed, like a meteor, speeding away, and in a blink, only a bright re of its tail was left.

    "Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios: "..."

    What does this mean now?

    However, the fire control operator "Nutmeg" Sman Francis in the rear seat guessed what had happened, suddenly realizing, "He''s out of missiles!"

    Even though the MiG-28 is a jet and can fly super fast and perform supersonic flights,pared to the "Big Mouth Monster," its weapon load is much less.

    The MiG-28 jets, swarming into the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, were armed solely with programmablebat bombs on their wings and tips, and with the central axle in the fusge, they could only carry as many as five.

    The leader of the "Zero Point" Squadron, "Titan," gifted Chen Fei the first of thebat bombs as a weing gift, and the remaining four bombs helped "Cyclops," the wingman, break free while also causing trouble for aircraft numbers 212 and 216 of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron.

    However, this meant all fivebat bombs were spent, leaving only some rounds for the aircraft cannon, which severely limited theirbat capabilities. Even the leader of the "Zero Point" Squadron could only bluster helplessly, taking the opportunity to slip away swiftly.

    Chen Fei neither heard the warning sound of being locked by fire control radar nor saw any predictive trajectory, and upon looking back, he found the sky behind him empty.

    Checking the battlefield data link for friend and foe information, he realized that the tough-talking adversary had long since fled.

    "Darn it! He''s run away!"

    While hisrades still needed support, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios urged displeasedly, "Rookie, keep up with me!"

    With one MiG-28 gone, the remaining jet fighters probably got the news too, and though the Rookie''sbat skills were questionable, having him by one''s side could still be intimidating.

    "I''ming, I''ming!"

    Chen Fei turned his aircraft around and chased after the deputy squadron leader''s aircraft number 212.

    "Hey, Yamada, when can you get here? I''m freezing to death!"

    Dangling from a parachute, "Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati sneezed, shivering in the cold wind as he slowly descended.

    He wondered if the maintenance team had promptly repaired those two Z-9 armed helicopters, hoping Yamada could pick him up soon. He couldn''t stand to stay a moment longer in this deserted, haunted ce.

    He saw the main driver "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear hanging nearby under another parachute, silent, and shouted, "Hey, ''Scallion Oil,'' aren''t you cold?" Find exclusive stories on mvl

    "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear replied dully, "Is your face cold?"

    The Fire Control Operator thought for a moment and said, "Well, it''s sort of okay!"

    Compared to his body, his face just felt cooler, not chilling to the bone.

    "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear said, "My whole body is a face!"

    "Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati: "..."

    In the distant sky, a star twinkled, faintly showing specks of starlight scattered about.

    "This is ''Peanut Butter,'' reporting mybat results and losses: I shot down two MiG-28s, I''m unharmed, but I''m out of missiles."

    The slightly panting voice of Chekhov Big Bear came through themunications channel, finally having a moment to inquire about his teammates''bat status.

    True to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron leader''s reputation, he had sessfully shot down two MiG-28 jet fighters on his own.

    "Aircraft 213 reporting, I didn''t shoot any down, I have onebat bomb left, and my wing-mounted machine guns are out of bullets, sorry!"

    "Aircraft 214 reporting, I shot down one MiG-28, I''m out of missiles, with only 20 bullets left, I''ll have to resort to tactical deception."

    Fighting against jet fighters, the turboprop "Big Mouth Monster" naturally faced immense pressure, relying on its weapons to avoid being shot down instantly.

    Even so, the situation was still far from optimistic.

    Aircraft 213 and 214 were nearly out of ammo and supplies, uncertain how much longer they could hold on.

    "''Dragon Artemisia,'' hold on, I''ming to support you first, Little Chili, how about your side?"

    Major Chekhov directly inquired about one of the most critical elements of the tactical n.

    "Aircraft 216 was shot down, one MiG-28 was taken down by the Rookie, another MiG-28 escaped, there''s no threat anymore, the Rookie and I are on our way."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios truthfully reported her situation.

    "Uh, the Rookie took one down? Hey, Rookie, are you still alive?"

    Major Chekhov had been too busy to pay attention to Chen Fei''s earlier conversation with the deputy squadron leader and was now double-checking.

    He always felt it was more likely for others to take down Chen Fei rather than the other way around.

    Chen Fei responded irritably, "I''m dead, if you need something, burn paper, for minor things summon my soul, for major matters dig up my grave!"

 Chapter 106: Section 106 - Return to Home

    ```

    Sometimes, people are alive, yet their hearts have already died.

    Chen Fei would definitely not admit that he had subconsciously mistaken the MiG-28 jet that swept over from above as Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear''s ride.

    After all, they were both MiG-28s, and the paint schemes looked roughly simr.

    Looking back now, a bit too presumptuous, mwah!

    "Craft 213 reporting, the enemy ne has withdrawn!"

    "Craft 214 reporting, same here, the remaining MiG-28 has fled!"

    Almost simultaneously, in different airspaces, the battles came to an abrupt halt as the enemy jets retreated without an agreement.

    It was over!

    Not only the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron but also many at Aircrew Base 911 collectively let out a long sigh of relief.

    They had finally defended their air superiority!

    In the event of defeat, with no intact eggs under an overturned nest, none would have a happy ending. The victor of corporate warfare would show no mercy to the vanquished, eliminating any chance of a resurgence.

    Although the war was not over, everyone seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

    At least the current situation wasn''t too dire, and with a bit of luck, they might be able to give the Merman Brothers Consortium a dirty face.

    "Congrattions everyone, please return to base as soon as possible!"

    The woman executive manager of the base said this over themunication channel and then flopped down into her chair, not wanting to move at all.

    Not only was she mentally exhausted from monitoring the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''sbat status, but the fatigue from earlier engagements with the enemy was also hitting her. Now, as she rxed slightly, all her umted exhaustion rushed over her like a tide, crushing her into her seat, too tired to even lift a finger.

    Fighting for life and death while maintaining a calmmand, this kind of physical and psychological pressure was unbearable for anyone.

    Half an hourter, pairs of beacon lights appeared in the western night sky, and the roar of engines could be heard from afar.

    One after another, returning A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft circled around Aircrew Base 911 before descending one by one, smoothlynding on the main runway.

    Aside from Squadron Leader Chekhov''s MiG-28 Jet Fighter, the second-tost "Big Mouth Monster" tond was Chen Fei''s 211, with reminders from deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios asionally reaching his ears.

    Even with one-on-one guidance from a high-level gamer, the process ofnding still left the youngster with jelly legs, his heart almost leaping out of his throat.

    After all, when ying flight games, he would crash nine times out of tenndings, truly a risk of death and survival.

    For Chen Fei,nding safely was more difficult than being chased by missiles. At least with missiles, there were predictive trajectories to guide him, but fornding, there was no system assistance, relying solely on his own control and a little bit of luck.

    When thending gear touched down and the turboprop began to decelerate, he almost copsed inside the cockpit, drenched in sweat,pletely worn out.

    Thank heavens, he had safely returned the fighter without having to pay for damages.

    Following him, deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios''s 212nded gracefully.

    Thest tond was the MiG-28 Jet Fighter, piloted by Squadron Leader Chekhov himself.

    -

    All the returning fighters gradually rolled into the parking apron, surrounded by a round of warm apuse.

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron defended the base against a strong enemy from the outside, earning the apuse of everyone present.

    The various ground crews rushed up together.

    Inspections, ammunition resupply, and refueling were all carried out simultaneously, quickly restoring the battle-readiness of these fighters still covered in gunpowder, ensuring that in case of a new enemy assault, they wouldn''t be caught off guard and could fight off the attackers immediately and emerge victorious.

    The female executive manager''s first orders had finally ignited a new change.

    Although Chekhov Big Bear imed he was unscathed, the surface of the MiG-28 showed numerous battle scars, a testament to how fierce the fighting had been.

    The ground personnel wanted to "extract" Chen Fei from the cockpit, but he weakly shook his head, indicating he needed to stay a while longer to recover before getting out; otherwise, he might not even be able to stand after leaving the ne.

    After resealing the cockpit canopy, it didn''t take long for Chen Fei to start snoring involuntarily.

    He was truly exhausted from the night''s hellish challenges.

    The slightly rejuvenated executive manager Hanna Gagar, holding a megaphone, came to the parking apron and clearing her throat, announced loudly, "I have just consulted with thepany headquarters and received approval.

    During corporate warfare, in addition to doubling wages, doubling warpensations, and increasing disability and personal ident insurance coverage, most people will receive an additional ten thousand Star Yuan as a stay-at-the-post bonus, and those involved in killing the invaders, depending on actualbat records, can receive a post-tax bonus ranging from ten thousand Star Yuan to one hundred thousand Star Yuan."

    The megaphone amplified her voice so that it reached every corner of the parking apron, clearly and distinctly.

    "Hoorah!~"

    "Half a year!~"

    "Long live!~"

    "Love you like a tiger, Hanna!"

    ¡­

    In the excitement, some people got bold and carried away.

    In the midst of danger, one seeks wealth, andpared to the risks brought by corporate warfare, generous rewards breed the courage to face life and death directly.

    ```

    As long as the money is right, everything is negotiable, just throw in extra cash and done.

    However, there''s this tiny group of folks, with their shifty eyebrows and starry eyes, who ended up with squat¡ªnot a dime more in wages or bonuses. Now they''re all locked up in the solitary confinement room, waiting to be sent home to eat themselves.

    "Iron doors, iron windows, iron chains, resting my hands on the iron bars looking outside, life out there is so wonderful ah..."

    Steal a chicken but end up losing the rice, better off doing nothing at all honestly.

    Who else should be sorted out in a critical moment if not those who gave Manager Hanna, the person you can''t say no to, such a headache?

    Hanna Gagel raised her hand and made a downward pressing gesture, immediately quietening everyone down, and spoke again, "The ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, for their great contributions to the base, will receive a collective bonus of 5 million Star Yuan. For those who shot down an enemy aircraft, a personal bonus of 1 million Star Yuan, all after tax¡ªthe bonuses are all amounts."

    If it were a pre-tax bonus, after automatic deduction of taxes, many people might only end up receiving half of the money.

    Better to be straightforward¡ªthe reward is what you get in hand, with all taxes being actively covered by thepany.

    This time, it was the pilots'' turn to cheer.

    Everyone gets a slice of the collective bonus, even the armed helicopter squadron pilots and those who didn''t shoot down any enemy aircraft can still be overjoyed to receive a significant amount of money, making their hard efforts not in vain.

    After all, abat flight squadron is a whole entity; relying on just one or two exceptionally skilled pilots does not bring out 100 percent of itsbat power.

    "What? What? 5 million Star Yuan, where? Where is it?"

    Chen Fei suddenly opened his eyes, trying to find the "5 million Star Yuan" he faintly heard, but the safety belt pulled him back, every part of his body aching sorely.

    Now nobody should mention money to him¡ªit''s just bad for rtionships.

    Tearing off the safety belt, peering out of the cockpit, he saw a big crowd on the tarmac, excited about something or other, making Chen Fei instantly lose interest. Yawning, he stretchedzily, shrank back inside, smacked his lips a few times, and the snoring sound resumed.

    Forget a bunch of crazies, not even the Jade Emperor himself would stop his sleep.

    Watching the constantly cheering crowd, the female executive manager''s mood was not the slightest bit affected.

    Sometimes, ignorance is a kind of bliss.

    The corporate war waged by the Merman Brothers Consortium against the Apocalypse Defense Group, this Aircrew Base 911 was just a microcosm. As a subsidiary unit under the Apocalypse Defense Group, there were more than just one 911.

    This night, it wasn''t just Aircrew Base 911 that got hit.

    Even as arge military contractor ranked 27th in the industry, it''s not quite up to snuff in front of a real behemoth ranked 8th.

    Overnight, in just a few hours, Apocalypse Defense Group suffered heavy losses.

    Though Aircrew Base 911 managed to repel the enemies once more and sessfully defended their turf, such a victory was trivial in the sh between two titans.

    The reason Hanna Gagel could secure such a substantial bonus was that amid a flood of bad news for Apocalypse Defense Group, Aircrew Base 911 brought in a rare piece of good news.

    The female executive manager from the group headquarter knew the crisis was just beginning for Apocalypse Defense Group and all its subsidiaries, yet she had no one to confide in, had to keep it all to herself, watching the happy employees, standing aside out of ce, silently.

    -

    After who knows how long, Chen Fei was nudged awake.

    Yawning, he opened his mouth, and as he recognized the person, he said weakly, "Big Brother Xiao, what''s up?"

    He was still in the cockpit, and it was still dark outside. He wasn''t sure what time it was, but the crowd on the tarmac had long since dispersed.

    The chief mechanic Xiao Ming said, "MiG-28 number 211 is ready to go."

    "Oh, got it. Thanks, boss!"

    Chen Fei knew the maintenance crew must have put in an all-nighter again, but he was just too tired to be of any help. Even now, his limbs were still weak; he probably couldn''t even turn a screw.

    "It''s too cold here, go back to the dorm to sleep."

    Big Brother Xiao turned his head, gesturing to the howling cold outside the cabin.

    If it weren''t for the cockpit canopy being down, the wind might have chilled Chen Fei by now.

    A yful gust of cold air squeezed in, as if to prove Xiao Ming''s point, instantly sweeping away thest bit of warmth from Chen Fei, causing him to shiver uncontrobly and dispelling much of his sleepiness.

    Big Brother Xiao was right; this definitely wasn''t a good ce to sleep.

    He immediately crawled out of the cockpit, greeted the chief mechanic, and headed towards his dormitory.

    After just three or four steps, he touched his head.

    Of course, his head wasn''t what he felt, but rather his pilot''s helmet¡ªit''s what kept the wind out and him warm while he slept drowsily. He was grateful for it.

    It finally dawned on Chen Fei that his "Little Bird" wasn''t in the dormitory; it was still in the steel shelter where the Energy Tower was located.

    Thinking of the shelter of the Energy Tower, the old Neanderthal man came to mind.

    A few hours ago, the old gentleman''s voice and smile were still present, but now, they were separated by life and death¡ªthe elder had passed away.

    Stay updated with mvl

    Chen Fei took a deep breath, wiped away the moisture from the corner of his eyes, and continued walking toward the steel shelter deep within the containerplex.

    --

 Chapter 107: Section 107 - Calm in the Storm

    Chen Fei was familiar with the steel structure shed, which at this moment had be dark and cold. The air was still filled with a faint burnt smell and lingering scent of blood. It was no longer the warmly lit shelter like spring, bright as daylight, but had turned into what seemed a ghostly inferno.

    Thepletely extinguished Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower no longer emitted warmth. The leftover backup electric power kept the glow tubes'' disys shining bright, "ID: 2333!"

    The dim light from the tubes prevented the shed from beingpletely plunged into darkness where you couldn''t see your hand in front of your face.

    The bodies that were once here had vanished, clearly, the security team hade and cleaned up.

    Inside the shed, only a dented wall, the ground littered with twigs and leaves, and bullet holes visible everywhere remained.

    With the help of the light from the glow tubes, Chen Fei searched for a while and found an emergency light.

    The simply designed halogen light cannon, like the glow tubes, had survived the strong electromaic pulse and could still be turned on. There was still power in the battery, and the light immediately illuminated the entire shed.

    Chen Fei quickly found Little Bird sleeping soundly in its new nest, tightly curled up next to a Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core.

    EMP weapons had absolutely no effect on Magical Beast Crystal Cores. Slight glimmers of light emanated from the surface of the crystal core, softly entering Xiao Jiu''s body. Each time they touched its ck feathers, the light particles would shimmer slightly.

    Not wishing to disturb his Little Bird, Chen Fei ced the covering back on gently.

    Utilizing the light from the emergencymp, Chen Fei began to tidy up the mess inside the shed. It took a while to clean up and set the items that had been knocked over back in their ce.

    However, there was nothing he could do about the numerous bullet holes that riddled the Energy Tower.

    "Old man..."

    Chen Fei called out of habit, then pped his forehead in annoyance.

    The old man was gone; only he and Xiao Jiu remained in the shed.

    A noise was heard, and a figure appeared at the shed''s entrance, holding a bottle of liquor in each hand and using a shoulder to push open the door.

    The person, seeing someone inside the shed, was initially stunned then let out a drunken, sillyugh.

    "Someone''s here? *Hic!* Perfect,e, join me, *hic!* let''s drink!"

    A flushed face, stumbling with a drunken fist, the smell of alcohol rapidly filled the shed,pletely altering from the previously untouchable, icy demeanor to someone altogether different.

    "Manager Hanna?!"

    Chen Fei stared in astonishment at his unexpected guest.

    "Right, that''s me, *hic!* With the authority of the executive manager, *hic!* Imand you to drink with me!"

    Stumbling toward Chen Fei, she shoved the liquor bottle right against his face.

    Well, what a transformation from a cutthroat corporate shark to the vige fool!

    Definitely too much to drink!

    "You should drink less, let me get you a cup of water!"

    As Chen Fei was about to turn around, he was grabbed by the drunken executive manager who, pushing and shoving, forced him to sit beside the bed in the shed, and then she flopped down herself.

    "Don''t run! Stay¡­ and drink with me!"

    Hanna Gagar, utterly drunk, insisted that Chen Fei not leave, and suddenly she started to cry loudly.

    "It''s so hard for me¡­ *sob sob sob*¡­ it''s so difficult, *hic!*¡­ those directors and shareholders are all, *hic!*¡­ inhuman, bastards... I''ve done

    Her drunken slurring made little sense.

    But Chen Fei could understand; sitting in the position of executive manager, she must face pressures beyond many people''s imaginations.

    Especially at such a critical juncture in the corporate war¡ªif one false step was made, not only was her own life in danger, but others would also be implicated.

    Facing pressures from the Merman Brothers Consortium, an industry giant, internal problems within Apocalypse Defense Group finally erupted. Confronted with greed over wealth and survival, some wanted to fight, others wanted peace; each had their own agenda, naturally leading to fierce infighting.

    Within thepany, there were numerous factions andplex loyalties. Under normal circumstances, their conflicts would be minor skirmishes, and the board of directors, considering the bigger picture, would try to treat everyone equally, maintaining some form of bnce.

    Now, that bnce had been forcefully disrupted by external forces. Despite seeding in repelling the enemy at Aircrew Base 911, other subsidiaries of Apocalypse Defense Group suffered tremendous losses, even facingplete annihtion.

    These losses threatened the very foundation of Apocalypse Defense Group. Departments were in turmoil, and many people were making ns for their own futures.

    Suddenly, all manner of evil and scheming emerged.

    The faction Hanna Gagar belonged to inevitably faced pressure, and the situation looked very bleak.

    Despite Aircrew Base 911''s victory in the corporate war and her efforts in obtaining a generous reward to stabilize morale, a series of bad news from thepany''s headquarters obliterated any positive feelings from the victory.

    With no one to share her bitter frustrations and pressures, she sought a deserted ce to drown her sorrows in alcohol. Running into Chen Fei, she grabbed him without thinking, thrusting the liquor bottle at him¡ªrookie, no escape!

    Forced to down two gulps of liquor, Chen Fei also felt a bit light-headed and involuntarily burped.

    *Hic!* "Manager Hanna, it''ste, you should go back and rest."

    Silly Hanna, with the face of a lovesick fool, blew alcohol breath as she said, "Rest, when we''re dead we can rest forever."

    The alcohol content on the top-right corner of thebel read 80 degrees, the other bottle was 75 degrees.

    "Nonsense, aren''t we still alive?"

    Chen Fei shook his head. Manager Hanna''s words were too ominous. Phooey, phooey, not auspicious at all!

    "How long do you think we can survive?"

    Hanna Gagar stared intently at Chen Fei.

    "A lifetime!"

    Chen Fei''s answer was something of a divine response.

    "Hahaha, you... arepletely ignorant of the truth!"

    Hanna Gagar pushed the liquor bottle into Chen Fei''s hand, then waggled a finger, and with a cryptic, foolish grin on her face.

    "So, what is the truth?"

    Chen Fei tilted his head, seemingly more perplexed and awestruck.

    "First drink... a sip, then I''ll tell... you, burp!"

    The female executive manager was evidently drunk and not thinking clearly, yet she still teased with a cliffhanger.

    "You''re joking!"

    Chen Fei expressed his doubts.

    This woman, when drunk, spouted all nonsense; not a word could be trusted.

    Drunk words are never to be taken as ount.

    "Drink, if you... don''t drink, I won''t tell you!"

    Hanna Gagelughed, her expression very strange, and then she said, "You have to drink a big gulp, yes, a big gulp, a small one doesn''t count!"

    Gulp gulp!

    Desperate to know the answer, Chen Fei chugged two big sips.

    "Good, that''s manly, invigorating!"

    The female executive managerughed heartily, acting like a tomboy, and patted Chen Fei forcefully on the shoulder.

    "I already drank, now tell me!"

    Chen Fei shook his head, his eyes bing bloodshot. The alcohol was strong; he nced again at thebel.

    The brand was called "Miracle of Life," with a subtitle below it: "Miracle will ur in the next second, life will shine in the next moment."

    I don''t believe this crap!

    80 degrees!

    I''ve been duped!

    No matter, I can take another sip.

    Chen Fei involuntarily took another small sip, thinking this bottle of booze must be worth ten thousand Star Yuan; each sip now felt like a bonus.

    Typical small-town mentality at y.

    Then he heard the female executive manager next to him say faintly, "Of all the aircrew bases that Apocalypse Defense Group owns, only ours, 911, is left."

    "Huh???"

    Chen Fei mechanically turned his head and tentatively asked, "What do you mean?"

    "What do I mean, haha, hahaha, Apocalypse Defense is about to be done for, and so are we!"

    Hanna Gagelughed maniacally.

    Strikes from industry giants were all-epassing. Apocalypse Defense Group, which had just acquired the remains of a Metallic Dragon, was now suffering heavy losses. It had be a juicy target in the eyes of many peers who began to stir, eager to swoop in and take a piece of the pie.

    Perhaps the top ten conglomerate military contractors had already set their sights on the wealthy Apocalypse Defense Group. A man is not guilty for being barehanded, but for possessing a jade. They justcked an excuse or a pretext.

    In the end, it''s a big-fish-eats-small-fish game.

    Now that the small fish has grown fat, the big fish wants to eat; it''s that simple.

    The sh of aircrew base 911 obliterating aircrew base 897 caused thetter''s military contractor to suffer significant vitality loss, falling into the dire straits of near bankruptcy and liquidation. Its acquisition by Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry, ignited the spark for corporate warfare and internal strife within Apocalypse Defense Group.

    Not many would truly me aircrew base 911. In fact, everyone knew that this was just a matter of circumstance. Even if it hadn''t happened now, it was bound to happenter; it was just a matter of time.

    "We''re... done for? How can that be?"

    Chen Fei simply couldn''t believe his ears.

    Aircrew base 911 had clearly won a great victory, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy and forcing them to flee in disarray. It shouldn''t be possible for them to make aeback anytime soon.

    With such an advantage already secured, there seemed to be no sign of impending doom.

    Could it be that this one-eyed olddy got confused by the alcohol and started talking nonsense?

    "Do you think the inside of Apocalypse Defense Group is united as one?"

    Hanna Gagel looked at Chen Fei with a mocking gaze from head to toe, a rookie is just a rookie, with no experience in such struggles, naively endearing.

    It was as if the decisively speaking female executive manager had returned.

    Chen Fei, struggling with bouts of tipsiness, asked doubtfully, "Isn''t it?"

    "Where there are interests, there will be people, there will be Jianghu, there will be interests. When everyone''s interests align, that''s Apocalypse Defense. But if they don''t align..."

    Hanna Gagel clenched her fist tightly, then suddenly spread her fingers with a heheugh, "That''s it! Haha,e on, take another big gulp."

    "¡­"

    Chen Fei was bbergasted.

    He had never imagined that Apocalypse Defense Group, so strong in its might, harbored such terrible crises within, potent enough to tear the whole group apart.

    "What I''ve told you, you must keep it secret, don''t breathe a word, dare you leak even a single letter!!!"

    The female executive manager made a sweeping gesture, and there was a faint sound of tearing in the air that flitted by in an instant.

    The multitude of nts and flowers that the old Neanderthal Barut had painstakingly cultivated were suddenly shed clean in half at their waist, their ends neatly cut.

    Find adventures at mvl

    Chen Fei''s hairs nearly stood on end.

    -

 Chapter 108: Section 108 - Take Ruthless Measures

    Beep!~ Beep beep beep!~ Beep!~ Beep beep!~

    "...Can''t drink anymore! Can''t drink anymore!... Good booze, this is good stuff... mua!"

    Chen Fei felt like he was lying in a cradle, swayingfortably, drooling and talking in his sleep.

    "Rookie! Wake up!~~KUMAAA!"

    The sudden bear-like roar kicked young Chen Fei out of his dreand.

    "Huh? What''s going on? Is it time to go to work? I haven''t even started my horse stance!"

    Chen Fei reflexively jerked up, only to be yanked back by the seatbelt strapped across him.

    Looking around, he was shocked to find himself inside a cockpit, and on the rear seat of a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop aircraft at that.

    He looked down and saw a big bag of stic bags in his arms, wafting out the aroma of food.

    What''s going on here?

    It must be a dream? Yes, definitely a dream!!

    So, nothing to worry about, nothing at all!

    Chen Fei sat backfortably, closed his eyes, and prepared to drift back into his slumber.

    "Hey, Rookie, how long you gonna sleep for? Wake up, there''s a war to fight!"

    The roaring voice of Chekhov Big Bear reached Chen Fei''s ears once more.

    "Stewed bear, deep-fried bear, steamed bear, spicy stir-fried bear, candied bear, hot and spicy bear, in boiled bear..."

    Chen Fei kept his eyes tightly shut, muttering nonstop.

    He was practically saying "If I close my eyes, it''s night."

    ng! An Erguotou liquor bottle flew from the front seat and hit his helmet, jolting his head to the side.

    Finally, he slowly opened his eyes.

    Damn... this is no dream.

    He was really in the cockpit.

    "Awake now? Get ready forbat, we''re almost there!"

    No doubt, that was Chekhov Big Bear in the front seat.

    But, how did he end up here?

    Experience more content on §Þ??

    With a forehead full of question marks, Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Um, squadron leader, where are we, and what are we doing?"

    The swaying scenery outside the cockpit was dim, with the asional high-speed backward movement of mountain ridges and rocks. It seemed the "Big Mouth Monster" was flying low.

    The incessant beeping in his ears was clearly the flight altitude rm.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s boss, Comrade Chekhov, boldly proimed, "It''s a dark and windy night, perfect for a stealth mission, right? You agreed to sneak with me for a quick hit-and-run, to show those traitors at 909 what they''re up against."

    Chen Fei: "..."

    Wait! Not me, don''t pin this on me! I didn''t say that!

    Basic Optical Observer Level 2, activate!

    All of a sudden, his vision became as clear as daylight, but, uh! No wingmen, no allies!

    Within a twenty-mile radius, there was only their "Big Mouth Monster," barreling towards enemy camp at break-neck speed.

    "Um, can the ne stop for a bit? I need to pee?"

    Chen Fei didn''t want to go mad with this Big Bear, but rather head back to base for a good sleep and wake up refreshed and vigorous.

    Chekhov Big Bear spoke ruthlessly, "Heh, you think you can just leave my ne? If you gotta go, just wet your pants. If you dare eject, I''ll shoot you down myself," he said, an unmistakable note of ruthlessness in his voice.

    You inhumane brute!

    Chen Fei was so enraged he wanted to curse out loud.

    But even if he could tear this stinking bear to pieces right now, it wouldn''t help the situation.

    Looking at the electronic map, he saw they weren''t too far from the 909 Aircrew Base.

    Chekhov really had some nerve. The battle had just ended; both sides were exhausted, and there he was, intent on storming the enemy base solo.

    If you want to infiltrate, do it, but why drag me along?

    Chen Fei started to remember some details.

    That''s right, he was tidying up in his shed in Barut when the drunken female executive manager barged in with two bottles of good liquor, and then... nothing unspeakable happened, as drunken lust wasn''t a factor, contrary to what novels and TV shows make up.

    He, too, got drunk and went to get some food to soak up the alcohol¡ªit''s ufortable to drink on an empty stomach.

    He sneaked into the canteen alone, where Chef Singh was on duty and gave him a bunch of hot, vacuum-packed braised dishes for free, not charging a single Star Yuan, allplimentary¡ªquite the treat.

    On his way back to the shed, he unexpectedly ran into a group of guys drinkingte-night booze, and Chekhov Big Bear was one of them, bragging away. Chen Fei, being drunk and defiant, expressed his disbelief, and somehow, Chekhov got egged on by a bunch of boozy buffoons, who dragged him onto the fully prepped No.

    211 "Big Mouth Monster." The drunken crew clumsily assisted in swapping the ammo without anybat orders or flight missions, and just like that, they recklessly took off, intending to raid 909 Aircrew Base under the cover of night to prove they weren''t just boasting.

    As memories trickled back, Chen Fei broke out in a cold sweat, realizing he had narrowly escaped death at Ghost Gate Pass once more.

    Truly terrifying, those drunkards didn''t blow up while changing ammo; he was truly grateful.

    If it weren''t for the recent ground assault and back-to-back fierce aerialbats that left the base full of wounded, understaffed, and poorly managed, how could these guys have managed to exploit such apse?

    It was toote for No. 211 "Big Mouth Monster" to turn back now, with only five kilometers left to the 909 Aircrew Base.

    I''m screwed!

    Chen Fei quickly checked the ammunition he was carrying and hurried to program it.

    After all, presetting thebat scheme for the weapons was a matter of life and death; there really was no time to squabble with Chekhov.

    "Last minute, countdown! Rookie, don''t drop the ball! Hahaha! Emperor''s Holy Sword, follow me with your chariot, hurray!~"

    The smug Big Bearughed loudly and wildly.

    Inside the 911 Aircrew Base, apart from a bunch of drunkards, not many knew that a Big Mouth Monster full of ammunition had taken off without permission and left the Aircrew Base.

    The security team actually had people still manning their posts, but they didn''t have the authority to inquire into the affairs of the flight squadrons and assumed it was another new mission.

    However, the personnel on duty at the ground-based radar detected something unusual and urgently called aircraft 211, only to be considered a nuisance by the overly excited Big Bear, who simply shut off themunication channel.

    Sitting in the back seat of the cockpit, Chen Fei was deep asleep, snoring loudly. It was only when he was getting close to the 909 Aircrew Base that he sobered up a bit, and then Chekhov Big Bear thoroughly woke him up.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft has seven hardpoints, with a maximum payload of two tons.

    This time it was carrying two sets of Rocket Nests, two EMPs, two Combat Bombs, and one 500-kilogram high-explosive aerial bomb, which was hanging on the central axis of the machine''s belly.

    Each of the two Rocket Nests was loaded with 20 57mm caliber rockets, and inbination with other weapons, they nearly consumed eighty percent of the maximum payload capacity.

    Only Major Chekhov,mander of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, was talented and brave enough to y such a risky game; anyone else flying with a heavy load at such low altitude would be waiting to crash into a mountain!

    Since he already made it here, why leave without even saying hello?

    He chose two EMP missiles, with a flick of his hand, off they went!

    The two missiles, dragging tails of fire, screamed out without any hesitation; the first thing to do was to blind the enemy''s electronic equipment.

    It was pure routine!

    The first wave of EMPs was an old but very effective tactic.

    Like children ying house, they started with a p in the face upon meeting.

    In the eyes of the Sovereign Level yers, military contractors throwing EMPs at each other was conducive to increasing GDP, so it was a good thing, openly supplying without any embarrassment.

    Weapons like EMPs pose no threat to the real National Treasure Artifacts, such as the Crystal Jet.

    -

    Aircraft 211 followed closely behind the EMP missiles and began to climb at full speed, breaking away from the ultra-low altitude surprise attack mode.

    The moment the missiles appeared, a piercing rm sounded immediately within the 909 Aircrew Base, four kilometers away.

    The personnel still at rest were shocked awake by the sudden rm; before they could react, two streaks of blue light shed across the sky above the base, and the rm stopped abruptly.

    Not just the rm, but all the lights went out as well.

    Fromunch to the burst of a strong electromaic pulse, it took only a few seconds, leaving no time for defense.

    The portable early warning radar inside began to belch blue smoke, and arge number of electronic circuits were burned out.

    "Two kilometers! Hahaha, Uncle Chekhov is here!"

    The radar at the 909 Aircrew Base waspletely ruined, and the automatic air defense system was knocked out. The opponent was like a defenseless big soft girl, and Chekhov erupted with unrestrainedughter.

    "Aim at the apron!"

    Chen Fei saw the turboprop and jet aircraft on the ground; they were all that escaped the.

    "Shooting nes with a machine gun? I like it!"

    Chekhov was about to pull the trigger on the wing-mounted machine gun when he heard Chen Fei say, "Use the rockets, empty them all, lock onto the tower and radar separately, and then take a turn around the barracks area."

    Chen''s hands were quick; he went at it hammer and tongs with fierce operations.

    "Emmm... this could work!"

    Chekhov quickly grasped the youngster''s intent: one sweep to carry away everything, with no looking back, which was exactly to his liking.

    Lines of Fire Serpents screeched out, the 57mm aviation rockets swarming towards the apron near thending runway of the 909 Aircrew Base, all 40 rockets creating an inferno.

    Once air superiority is gained, even a single fighter jet can unleash terrifying destructive power.

    One after another, the Big Mouth Monsters were directly hit and blown to smithereens or caught in the coteral explosion, torn apart by sympathetic detonations of ammunition, and the closely packed MiG-28 fighter jets were not spared either.

    Explosions erupted one after another on the apron, turning it into a fiery hell.

    The sessful 211 did not stop; the two Combat Bombs under its wings separated one after another, trailing long plumes of smoke as they pounced on the tower and radar, resulting in two more earth-shattering explosions. Zeroed in on Air-to-Ground mode, the programmable Combat Bombs hit their targets directly.

    "Drop the bomb!"

    Aircraft 211 suddenly felt lighter as it sharply raised its nose and broke away at full speed.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop didn''t just drop the 500-kilogram bomb hanging from the central axis; it also dropped two emptied Rocket Nests, which tumbled down and effortlessly smashed through two barracks buildings.

    Boom!~

    The violent impact wave instantly swept across the entire barracks area. The modr barracks, just like those at 911 Aircrew Base, were as fragile as paper mache, shattering the buildings and the people inside.

    Before this, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron from 911 Aircrew Base had raided 897 Aircrew Base without deliberately targeting personnel. Even though most areas of the base were reduced to scorched earth, the barracks area was still intact, and there were not many casualties.

    At this moment, deep in the night, most people were resting in the barracks area.

    But Chekhov and Chen Fei chose to strike hard; that one high-explosive aerial bomb dropped would result in casualties in the double digits at least, and surpassing a hundred was also a possibility.

    This is corporate warfare; there''s no justice, no right or wrong, only life, or death!

    .

    -

 Chapter 109: Section 109 - No Winners

    "909 is doomed!"

    Chekhov Big Bear was thoroughly satisfied.

    The "Big Mouth Monster," no longer sneaking around, swaggered away boldly.

    Leaving behind an aircrew base like hell on earth.

    In the rear seat of the cockpit, Chen Fei tore open a vacuum-packed bag that was still hot.

    Inside was a plump pig''s trotter. Kiss it, muah! And a big bite, chomp!

    "What does it taste like?"

    While piloting the aircraft, Chekhov sniffed hard and couldn''t help swallowing his saliva.

    "Nothing... at all!"

    Chen Fei mumbled, speaking against his conscience.

    Poisoning in the dead of night, isn''t that just normal procedure?

    "No, you''re lying to me, you''re hogging it all to yourself, right? You can''t eat alone, share half with me!"

    Chekhov had gulped down a bellyful of Erguotou and was extremely hungry, immediately starting to make a fuss.

    "No, keep dreaming!"

    Chen Fei had no intention of sharing with this Big Bear. With this guy''s size, what he had in his hands probably wouldn''t even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

    "Don''t lie, lying is bad, you have some, share it quickly!"

    The Big Bear started acting shameless, insisting on sharing Chen Fei''s food.

    "No, no, there isn''t any!"

    Chen Fei picked up the Blue Star Erguotou bottle thrown earlier and started banging it against the other''s helmet.

    "No!"

    Bang!

    "No!"

    Bang!

    "No!"

    Bang!

    ...

    Finally got his chance.

    The whole "Big Mouth Monster" began to wobble in the sky.

    -

    At dawn, an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft, facing the rising sun, descended toward the Main Runway at the 911 Aircrew Base.

    Thending gear touched down on the ground, then bounced up once, twice, thrice, and finally settledpletely.

    A perfectly good turboprop aircraft was harshly turned into a tricycle.

    Explore more stories with §Þ??

    No sooner had the "Big Mouth Monster" steadied than the cockpit canopy was hastily pushed open, the pilot in the rear seat fumbling to get out of his harness, tumbling out, slipping, and crashnding on the wing, then slipping down the side and smacking horizontally onto the ground.

    After lying there for a moment, he finally got up with a grimace, shaking his head and taking deep breaths.

    A thunderous snoring sound came from the cockpit.

    "Oh dear, finally saved."

    Chen Fei vigorously fanned in front of his mouth and nose with his hand.

    He had knocked the already drunk Big Bear unconscious with the Erguotou bottle, or more precisely, knocked him to sleep.

    No one believes a liquor bottle could break the defense of his thick-skinned face, bullet-proof against armor-piercing shells.

    The snoring was thunderous, he slept, and to make matters worse, he wet himself without wearing adult diapers, wetting right there in his pants.

    For the sealed cockpit, this was nothing short of a disaster.

    Every inch of the cockpit was filled with a thick Russian urine smell, and even wearing an oxygen mask didn''t help.

    The ne had not gone out of control when Chekhov suddenly fell asleep because on the one hand, the airframe was designed for static stability, releasing the stick would automatically level it, and on the other hand, the "Big Mouth Monster" inherently had the lineage of a trainer, with both the front and the rear seats having full authority to control the airframe, even if the fire control operator took the front seat and the main pilot took the back seat, there was no issue.

    As soon as the snoring started, Chen Fei took over the entire aircraft, following satellite navigation and his familiarity with the terrain, he groped his way back to 911 Aircrew Base.

    The aircraft number 211 didn''t glide into the parking apron but instead stopped at the end of the taxiway.

    Before long, an on-duty deputy manager, Worman Hadler, rushed over in a rage.

    Under the executive manager of the aircrew base, there were two deputy managers, one responsible for life logistics, and the other forbat logistics.

    For a while, no one could find Manager Hanna, so Deputy Manager Worman Hadler had to take charge personally.

    No one could find Manager Hanna, so the deputy had to step up himself.

    "What on earth is going on, why did you take off without authorization, what are you trying to do? Let me tell you, this is very serious..."

    Worman Hadler spewed his anger at Chen Fei, who was fertilizing the lush green grass beside the runway.

    When aircraft number 211 loaded with ammunition soared into the sky, its unknown whereabouts frightened many.

    If it hadn''t been for those drunkards on the apron telling them that Squadron Leader Chekhov of the "Genuine Fragrance" had taken the rookie to check out the 909 Aircrew Base, they might even have suspected they had defected.

    If it weren''t for the fact most pilots were dead drunk and except for Major Chekhov, no one could fly the two MiG-28 Jet Fighters, perhaps the duty manager on call would''ve ordered someone to chase down Chekhov immediately for taking off without orders.

    For the current situation at Aircrew Base 911, this was not the worst yet.

    During the corporate wars, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron was the only thing the entire base relied on for self-preservation, and every pilot was incredibly precious.

    If, for no good reason, they were to lose one of the best squadron leaders and another pilot, even if thetter was a rookie who hadn''t even gotten used to the joystick, it would be a death sentence for everyone at Aircrew Base 911.

    They would lose at least half their air control.

    "It''s not my fault, it''s his!"

    Chen Fei pointed righteously at the front seat of the cockpit.

    He was more than willing to pass the buck to the Big Bear¡ªyes, that one. Hang it up, skin it, sprinkle it with Sichuan peppercorn and salt, let it dry in the wind. Eighteen dayster, it would make a fine side dish for drinking.

    "Him?"

    Deputy Manager Wolman Hadler was startled and looked towards the cockpit, immediately hearing a pig-ughtering snore, with someone still inside.

    Leaning over and jumping up to look inside, a strong smell of urine hit him in the face, almost knocking out the old white-haired man.

    Where did they find this "biological weapon"? The smell was overwhelming.

    "Chekhov? What happened to him?"

    Wolman Hadler looked at Chen Fei in surprise.

    What on earth did you two do all night?

    The cockpit was about to turn into a urine tank.

    "He drank too much!"

    Chen Fei spread his hands. It wasn''t his concern if the Big Bear drank too much.

    Who knows how much that Big Bear had drunk; its relieving capacity was astounding.

    "..."

    The deputy manager was so angry his face turned green. He would find Manager Hanna and deal properly with these two audaciously reckless individuals.

    Thus, Comrade Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov was bewilderingly confined yet again.

    As for Chen Fei, seeing that he was a rookie, they didn''t pursue the matter. He was given a water pistol and tasked with cleaning the cockpit of ne 211, washing and scrubbing...

    -

    In the wee hours, news that Aircrew Base 909 had been attacked only btedly arrived at Aircrew Base 911 around three in the afternoon.

    The internal strife within the Apocalypse Defense Group affected the intelligence systems, slowing down the rate at which Aircrew Base 911 in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area received external news by more than a beat.

    ording to the battle damage report received by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the control tower and radar at Aircrew Base 909 were struck by missiles, apanied by indiscriminate hits from EMP electromaic pulse missiles. Many devices were scrambled even if they looked intact on the outside. The runways'' MiG fighters werepletely destroyed, none spared.

    The explosion ignited nearby hangars, burning them throughout the morning until most of the structure copsed, and personnel exhausted all efforts to stop the fire from reaching the fuel depot.

    The losses in buildings, equipment, and materials were not the worst part. In the attack, 87 personnel were instantly killed, with nearly one-third of them unidentifiable. There were 14 severely injured, another 67 lightly injured, and 5 missing, who were presumed dead.

    The Combat Flight Squadron stationed there was entirely wiped out. From the Merman Brothers Consortium''s "Zero Point" Squadron, only the squadron leader "Titan" survived with minor injuries; all other pilots died in the final airstrike.

    This merciless bombing of the living quarters was exceedingly cruel.

    After all, being a private military contractor, they dealt with either magical beasts or mutants, never expecting that the people from Aircrew Base 911 hadn''t nned in preparing for another round but instead made a direct night raid.

    A single lethal precision strike from a Big Mouth Monster directly crippled the entire Aircrew Base 909.

    The military contractor of Aircrew Base 909 was despondent, probably going to vomit blood for a long time.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium, sharing Aircrew Base 909, also suffered significant losses. Two squadrons of Big Mouth Monster turboprop aircraft lost half their numbers in battle, and the remaining half was lost in the predawn attack, essentially annihting them. Also, a fullplement MiG jet elite squadron lost almost all their personnel except for the squadron leader.

    The loss of these pilots and fighters alone was sufficient to annihte two bases like Aircrew Base 911, not to mention the preemptive ground elite squad.

    A mage, two supernatural power users, and one War Professional, such abination should have been fail-safe in a surprise attack. However, no one expected that a Dark Elemental Psychic excelling in assassination along with the augmented Optical Camouge Suit would be eliminated first. The retaliatory response from Aircrew Base 911 came swift and fierce.

    It was a surprise that such a small airbase housed two supernatural power users and a Neanderthal Elite Warrior. Although he was old, he managed not to falter in a fight with a Sixth Rank Human Order War Professional empowered by Battle Qi even after releasing his Secret Technique.

    In the end, only this War Professional managed to escape alone, barely evading capture.

    -

    "Attention! Fire!"

    Bang!~

    Ten gunshots sounded as one.

    On thewn near the main runway, 31 bodies wrapped in white clothsy neatly arranged, stacked over a thickyer of firewood.

    "Fire!"

    Bang!~

    "Fire!"

    Bang!~

    After three volleys by the neatly arranged security personnel.

    The long-missing female executive manager Hanna Gagel reappeared before everyone, holding a torch, and lit the bodies one by one.

    The mes quickly rose, engulfing the white cloths.

    All employees of Aircrew Base 911, except those on duty, gathered on thewn, silently watching their fallen colleagues, standing solemnly.

    Chen Fei''s gaze never left one of the bodies next to which a sharp, slender, cold weapon was inserted. He sniffed, his eyes slightly reddening.

    Among those cremated on-site was also the body of Neanderthal Elder Barut.

    -

 Chapter 110: Section 110 - Support Arrives

    ```

    "The old man was a good person, mourn with moderation."

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, temporarily released, stood beside Chen Fei, well aware of the rtionship between the old man and this young fellow.

    This guy finally sobered up, and upon opening his eyes, found himself unexpectedly in the Solitary Confinement Room. Remembering the absurd things he''d done, he didn''tin. Compared to being able to return alive, spending a few days in confinement was nothing.

    Drinking was a must, as for the future... let destiny take its course.

    Humbly admit to mistakes, but never repent.

    "Hmm!"

    Chen Fei responded with a sound.

    The mes grew fiercer, and billows of ck smoke rose up.

    Chef Abel came over, one arm in a sling, but otherwise not seriously hurt. It had just been dislocated duringst night''s battle and had just been set back in ce. He wouldn''t be able to exert much force for ten to fifteen days. He patted Chen Fei''s shoulder with his other hand.

    "Mourn with moderation!"

    Then came the maintenance chief, Xiao Ming, several mechanics, followed by the pilots from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    They all came by to give Chen Fei a pat on the shoulder.

    Thest one, however, was Hanna Gagel.

    "Mourn with moderation!"

    Even after a careful wash and a change of clothes, the woman executive manager still had a faint smell of alcohol on her.

    She took control once again, and the daunting 911 Aircrew Base seemed to find its backbone, stabilizing once more. Although she, like Squadron Leader Chekhov, had drunk herself into a disappearance, it was still better than rashly seeking the enemy for a bay fight.

    "Thank you!"

    Chen Fei nodded.

    After burning for more than an hour, the fire gradually subsided, and all the bodies had been turned to ash.

    Not all the ashes werepletely incinerated. The people in charge of collecting the ashes used entrenching tools to crush the thoroughly burned bones into even finer pieces and then gathered them into earthen jars.

    Chen Fei did not leave this task to others but chose to do it himself.

    He carefully gathered Old Master Barut''s final remains in this world, sealed the jar meticulously, wrapped it thoroughly in cloth, and then, still holding the hot jar, walked out of the base without a backward nce, raising his hand to beckon.

    The "Blood Spike" lying by the firepit whooshed into his hand.

    System: Ding! Unknown alloy found, 112.531 kilograms. Absorb? Yes/No£ü?

    No!

    The old man had no living kin, lonely and alone in the world; where he died, he would be buried.

    Outside the Aircrew Base, he found a sunlit slope and dug arge hole with the "Blood Spike." He ced the jar containing the ashes at the bottom of the hole, filled the soil andpacted it, forming a burial mound, and scattered grass seeds. He then split a rock te, and the sharp "Blood Spike" effortlessly etched deep marks on the surface of the stone.

    Here lies Neanderthal warrior Barut. May he rest in peace, **** year * month * day. Inheritor: Chen Fei. Erected by

    "Old Master, rest in peace!"

    Chen Fei took out a bottle of fruit wine brewed by Barut himself. He drank half the bottle in one go, taking a long breath of the alcohol, and after touching the bottle against the stone grave marker, ced it down.

    Picking up the "Blood Spike," he got up and left.

    System: Ding! Unknown alloy found, 112.531 kilograms. Absorb? Yes/No£ü?

    Yes!

    The "Blood Spike" in his hand rapidly shrank and became smaller.

    System: Ding! Energy Points +1

    Individual Information:

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 12/12

    Burst Strength: 57/60

    Fullness: 90%

    Active Time: 110 hours

    Energy Points: 12/5000

    My Skills:

    1. Metal Devouring

    2. Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes 1 energy point, duration 15 seconds, cooldown time 15 seconds)

    3. Physical Evolution Database (3), Category: None/Management...

    4. Secret Technique: Fight to the Death

    5. Basic Optical Observer Level 2: Low-light Enhancement (Level 3 requires 100 energy points)

    Management -> Create New Category "Cold Weapon," creation sessful

    Physical Evolution Database (3), Category: Cold Weapon (3)/Management...

    Task List:

    1. Devour 1 ton of metal, receive +1 energy point (daily task)

    ```

    ```

    2. Dance with missiles for a cumtive 18 seconds/60 seconds, and maintain graceful postures to gain +200 energy points.

    By the time Chen Fei returned to the Aircrew Base, he had already organized his system.

    He moved some personal items from the dormitory into the shanty where the Energy Tower was located. Old Master Barut had left behind many things, not only the Secret Techniques he had personally passed on. Since there were no rtives, everything now rightfully and legally belonged to him.

    There wasn''t much stuff, about a hundred thousand in Star Yuan cash. Aside from a small number of personal items, there were about a dozen boxes, roughly five to six hundred pounds of various canned meats, some unidentifiable animal ws and teeth, about ten gems of not particrly high quality, colorful and likely collected casually as souvenirs.

    The majority was alcohol, over a thousand bottles of different brands of liquor, and about a hundred pounds of home-brewed fruit wine, with about ten pounds nearing the end of their prime vor period.

    There was a set of fermentation tanks and distillers, extremely well maintained, shiny and spotless. There were over a hundred pounds of unused distillers'' yeast. Following the old man''s drinking habits, it would probablyst a year or two.

    There were countless empty bottles, the remnants of years of drinking, which could now conveniently be used for bottling new wine.

    After the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was shut down, it no longer emitted heat or provided the necessary electricity for lighting, resulting in poor lighting inside the shanty. Additionally, a drunken Manager Hanna had carelessly sliced through arge area of vegetation with a Wind de.

    Even though Chen Fei took great care of it, even going so far as to remodel the steel structure shanty, recing the dented iron sheets and nearby ss bricks with translucent recycled ss to let in as much natural light as possible,

    the nts inside the shanty were still wilting andnguishing after two or three days.

    -

    The parentpany of Aircrew Base 911 was in turmoil, with an increasingly serious trend.

    Not only were all the departments affected, but the director board, which represented the will of the shareholders, also argued incessantly every day, shaking the cohesion and unity of the enterprise and causing personnel to waver.

    The HR department received arge number of resignations daily, some departments couldn''t even function normally due to severe talent loss, and they were overwhelmed with problems.

    As things deteriorated, the connection between Hanna Gagel and the Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters also faced difficulties. Other than the first batch of bonuses and advance sries that were promptly received, the subsequent requests for supplies and additional staff remained unfulfilled.

    Even the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which she was once very familiar with, had be strange due to frequent personnel changes. The leaders and colleagues she knew were gone, reced by a group of strangers with hostile attitudes.

    All these changes made the mood of the female executive manager increasingly heavy.

    Another two or three days passed.

    A small transport ne followed by two medium transport nesnded one after another on the main runway of Aircrew Base 911.

    The long-awaiting female executive manager immediately approached the small transport ne, which firmly braked on the tarmac among the three.

    A dozen armed personnel came out first, andstly, a middle-aged man in a white suit appeared, squinting slightly against the harsh sunlight. Upon seeing Hanna Gagel, he immediately smiled.

    "My Little Hanna, it''s been a long time since I''ve seen you."

    "Uncle McAllen, it''s only been a bit over a month."

    Hanna Gagel smiled and embraced the man.

    He was not only a shareholder and director of Apocalypse Defense but also her father''s younger brother.

    "Isn''t there a saying, ''A day apart feels like three years''? My Little Hanna, are you getting used to it here?"

    The middle-aged man in a white suit, McAllen Gager, surveyed his surroundings, faintly noticing the signs of battle.

    The ugly scars of war wouldn''t disappear in a day or two.

    ```

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    ```

    "I''ve just gotten used to it."

    Hanna Gagel wore a bitter smile.

    Not long ago, due to immense pressure, she had gotten thoroughly drunk.

    When she sobered up, what needed to be faced still had to be faced, and the pressure didn''t diminish in the slightest.

    All sorts of problems were cropping up at Aircrew Base 911, forcing the female executive manager to devote herselfpletely without rest or sleep, to the point that she didn''t even have time to consider getting drunk again.

    McAllen Gager patted his niece''s shoulder and said, "Don''t rush, take it slow, things will get better."

    Then he turned around, pointing at the three transport nes, and said, "I''ve brought you forty-five people, you can trust thempletely, along with a batch of equipment and supplies. This is the most I could get with my highest authority, and I''m leaving this small transport ne for you as well."

    After all, he was a shareholder of Apocalypse Defense Group and one of the board members, so pulling together a batch of people and things was certainly within his purview.

    From the nes, a group of people disembarked one after another, the majority of whom were armed security personnel.

    Hanna Gagel was about to show a look of surprise but then seemed to think of something and frowned.

    "Uncle, has the situation deteriorated to an irreversible extent?"

    The intention behind leaving a small transport ne became even clearer: it was an escape route.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group not only suffered a resounding defeat in the corporate warfare but even the partial victories achieved by Aircrew Base 911 couldn''t reverse the overall situation.

    "Ah! You''re always so clever!"

    McAllen Gager sighed and then said, "Actually, I''d prefer if you left with me."

    "No, I will not leave!"

    Fighting hard for an opportunity to be put into practical service, especially being in charge of an entire aircrew base, Hanna Gagel wouldn''t allow herself to be a deserter.

    "Just as stubborn as your father!"

    McAllen Gager looked at his niece and suddenly smiled, saying, "Haha, truly worthy of the Gager bloodline, all of you are stubborn to a fault, not even a lotive could drag you back."

    "But still, thank you, Uncle!"

    Hanna Gagel hugged her uncle, full of gratitude.

    "I''m just a minor shareholder, there''s not much I can help you with!"

    McAllen Gager suddenly became serious and spoke solemnly, "You need to be careful, Merman Brothers United has lodged aint with the Global United Defense Committee, iming that Aircrew Base 911 is harboring remnants of the Third Era Civilization, which could potentially cause trouble. Remember what I said, don''t overstrain yourself, if you sense danger, leave immediately.

    This is war; don''t hesitate. Protecting yourself is how you can aplish more."

    "I understand, Uncle!"

    Hanna Gagel nodded vigorously.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 111: Section 111 - Drunk Again

    The three transport aircraft that arrived at Aircrew Base 911 were almost fully loaded.

    In addition to nearly fifty passengers, the cargo included four mainponents of the "Big Mouth Monster" and rted consumables, a batch of specially made weapons and equipment, and a very expensive Crystal Energy Storage Station for emergencies, capable of sustaining the 24-hour daily consumption of the entire Aircrew Base 911.

    Of course, power guzzlers like the Maic Catcher, which even the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower couldn''t support for long, were not included.

    As the uncle of his niece, McAllen had gone to great lengths, sending reliable personnel and transporting important materials to provide as much protection as possible for his Little Hana, leaving a way out as well.

    The damned Merman Brothers Consortium had no sense of fairness inbat. They dered war and then immediately followed with an attack, giving Apocalypse Defense Group no chance to prepare.

    While the three transport aircraft were being unloaded, McAllen Gagar had lunch with his niece Hanna, talked for a while, and then boarded one of the medium transport aircraft, which took off one after the other, taking away some fired employees sent home to eat their own damn food, including the HR manager Takar who was ipetent, whose fellow countrymen and rtives¡ªexcept for the main chef Singh who turned against them at a crucial moment¡ªstayed behind, primarily because the always clean-oriented Chef Singh despised his countrymen''sck of hygiene, so he had no psychological burden in betraying them.

    A small transport aircraft stayed behind.

    The people McAllen Gagar brought were integrated into various departments, effectively easing the manpower shortage at the entire aircrew base, especially in the security team, which suffered the greatest casualties, adding more than a dozen veterans which greatly strengthened the overall capability.

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron also weed new members: the pilots of the small transport aircraft, Ethan Karna and Keller Karna, were twins.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, bored out of his mind, immediately came up with call signs for the brothers: the older brother Ethan was nicknamed "Octagon," and the younger brother Keller was nicknamed "Cinnamon." Together as Octagon and Cinnamon, never apart like jiao and Meng in a stew, they formed a fragrant duo inseparable from the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Enjoy more content from §Þ??

    Chen Fei always felt that Big Bear was doing this on purpose, taking revenge for the time he hit him with a bottle; otherwise, the neers could have just as easily have been named "Hocks" or "Soup Cat" or something!

    So next time he got the chance, he was determined to hit harder and knock Big Bear straight into a concussion.

    The twin brothers were quite happy with their new call signs, and not only could they fly small transport aircraft, but they could also fly the MiG-28, greatly enhancing thebat capability of the "Genuine Fragrance"bat flight squadron.

    It seemed Manager Hanna''s uncle had handpicked these talents to reinforce the strength of Aircrew Base 911.

    -

    After leveling Aircrew Base 909, the conflict with the Merman Brothers Consortium came to a temporary pause, and the materials brought by the uncle of the executive manager were just what Aircrew Base 911 desperately needed.

    The mechanic team worked night and day using the "Big Mouth Monster"ponents delivered by the transport aircraft and the spare parts from the storage containers, assembling six "Big Mouth Monsters" at once to avoid a situation where there would be no fighters avable due to battle damage in uing fights.

    Fortunately, Apocalypse Defense Group did not fully waste the transport capacity of the "Luo Jing Number" heavy transport airship; the existing reserves of parts at Aircrew Base 911 were enough to assemble ten additional "Big Mouth Monsters" and four MiGs-28.

    While these fighter reserves were more than sufficient for handling magical beasts and mutants, they might not be enough for corporate warfare, so having one more meant an extra measure of self-protection.

    The workload for assembling spare fighters was so high that Chen Fei, novice thrown into the fray, gained proficiency in the craft and could even manage the assembly of "Big Mouth Monster" independently.

    He was already studying the technical manual of the MiG-28 jet fighter, starting to systematically catch up on what he needed to learn.

    After all, to be a qualified mechanic, it was absolutely insufficient to have expertise only in repairing one type of aircraft.

    Beyond assembling spare "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop aircraft, the mechanic team also undertook the construction of other facilities.

    The original operational goals of Aircrew Base 911 were tobat magical beasts and mutants; now that they were at war with an industry giant, the existing equipment and facilities were outdated and urgently needed upgrades to both air and ground alert and defense capabilities.

    For instance, to address the power shortages caused by the Energy Tower strike, relying solely on diesel generators was far from sufficient; additional sr and wind power abilities were added, barely restoring to about forty to fifty percent of the original levels, with priority given to thebat departments.

    Less critical facilities like dormitories, bars, and outdoor lighting were either turned off or had their electricity usage restricted.

    Aircrew Base 911''s nearby high ground had thousands ofndmines newly buried, with scouting warning devices deployed, plus mobile hidden sentry posts and small reconnaissance drones. Together with electronic reconnaissance balloons, the whole base was turned into an impregnable fortress to prevent enemies from infiltrating again.

    To enhance defenses against EMP (electromaic pulse) weapon attacks, a new electronic warfare expert at Aircrew Base 911 personally designed over a dozen ns. Although these would consume a lot of materials and increase power consumption, they could effectively protect electrical circuits.

    For some critical equipment, in addition to shieldingyers, an additional Faraday cage was installed as a means of enhanced protection.

    -

    Upon returning to his hut, Chen Fei took a hot shower to wash off the smells of paint and lubricant mixed with sweat, changed into clean clothes, and was about to light up the kerosene heater when someone with a smell of alcohol and bringing in a cold breeze burst in.

    "Rookie, drink with me!"

    It was that familiar taste again, Executive Manager Hanna Gagel.

    After failing to find anyone when she banged on the doors in the dormitory area, she came to the shed by the Energy Tower and found her immediately.

    Ever since thest time she came running over and got drunk as a skunk, she had once again paid a visit, treating Chen Fei as her drinking buddy.

    It was strange, Chekhov Big Bear also could not resist alcohol, yet he couldn''t quite drink with Manager Hanna, and both of them liked to drag Chen Fei into having a few drinks together.

    "Manager Hanna, you''re drunk again!"

    Chen Fei, watching the Executive Manager staggering like a drunken cat, knew she was under tremendous stress and wanted to drown her sorrows in liquor.

    "Do you have any snacks? Last time you left me alone, burp! That wasn''t very nice!"

    Hanna Gagel, who had indulged in a few extra drinks, waspletely different in front of Chen Feipared to usual, behaving with familiarity and without any reservations.

    Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, and with no one else around, it was the perfect time to let loose.

    She was picking on the neer!

    picking on little Chen Fei wouldn''t give her, a Level C wind-type ability user, an opportunity to cause some mischief.

    Raising her hand, a wind de appeared. Where''s the beef?

    Gone!!!

    "There''s some!"

    Chen Fei reluctantly brought out his own midnight snack.

    He knew at a nce the Executive Manager must have been drinking on an empty stomach, since she got drunk so quickly.

    The hand-brined salted duck eggs reached perfection; the egg whites were tender as snow, the yolks bright red and oozing oil. He scooped one up with chopsticks and the gleaming egg oil couldn''t be stopped. There was also a te of pig''s head meat, bearing a striking resemnce to "Salo," a type of fatty salt meat from Chekhov''s hometown, perfect to apany drinks.

    Hanna Gagel picked up a salted duck egg, peeled it cleanly, and threw it straight into her mouth... her eyes immediately bulged, choking to the point of questioning life.

    "Hiss, hiss! Are these eggs made of salt?"

    The Executive Manager looked at the duck egg and then at the greasy te of pig''s head meat, filled with trepidation, unsure of how to digest it all.

    "Take small bites, sandwich the salted egg in bread, that''s the proper way to eat it."

    Chen Fei took out a piece of bread, tore off a small piece of salted duck egg that soaked up plenty of egg oil with chopsticks, and savored it delightfully!

    Gulp, gulp!

    Hanna Gagel grabbed the bottle of liquor and began chugging, washing away most of the salty taste, wincing as the main act began.

    "We''ve been abandoned at Aircrew Base 911!"

    "Oh, what else?"

    Chen Fei remained calm and collected, as this wasn''t his first rodeo.

    When the Executive Manager got drunk and wild, it was never good news. As a mere employee, as long as he got his Silver, he wasn''t worried about the sky falling¡ªit had tall people holding it up.

    -

 Chapter 112: Section 112 - The Abandoned 911

    "My uncle is dead!"

    The female executive manager burst into howling sobs without warning.

    Her only uncle had risked great danger toe to the 911 Aircrew Base. On his way back, he was attacked by an anti-aircraft missile. One of the two medium transport aircraft was shot down¡ªit was the one McAllen Gager was on.

    It wasn''t until two dayster that McAllen Gager''s body was found, with the scene marked by a destroyed aircraft and the loss of life.

    Those who had been sent home to fend for themselves by the Aircrew Base, who had boarded the same transport, also didn''t escape from this disaster. They died without a trace. Since they were forcefully released from their contracts, they were no longer employees of the Apocalypse Defense Group and therefore, didn''t get a penny of the wartimepensation.

    Without a doubt, the culprit was the Merman Brothers Consortium, which had started a corporate war with the Apocalypse Defense Group; perhaps the military contractors of the 909 Aircrew Base were involved as well.

    Hanna Gagel managed to suppress her tears and sorrow, putting on a facade of calmness andposure until the end of the workday, despite the news of her loved one''s loss.

    As soon as she was out of everyone''s sight, she grabbed a bottle of alcohol and started looking for Chen Fei everywhere.

    The Rookie is just a trash can, where you can dump any kind of negative emotion. Once sober, everyone would take their separate sunny paths and nk bridges, forgetting each other in Jianghu.

    At least that''s what Hanna Gagel thought.

    As for Chen Fei, one of the parties concerned, he waspletely clueless and couldn''t fathom what the female executive manager was thinking.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "The person who came that day?"

    At that time, he was in Hangar No. 1 receiving one-on-one training from Xiao Ming, the chief mechanic, so he never saw Hanna Gagel''s uncle McAllen Gager and only heard about himter.

    "Wuuwuuwuu..."

    The female executive manager didn''t exin and cried earth-shatteringly.

    Blowing her nose and wiping her tears all over Chen Fei''s body.

    Chen Fei: ¡­

    I just took a bath!

    I just changed my clothes!

    I really want to press this one-eyed olddy on the ground and beat her!

    But... I can''t beat her, I can''t beat her!

    This olddy is as annoying as the Chekhov Big Bear.

    After a long bout of crying, Hanna Gagel managed to stifle her sobs. She didn''t dare to show her tears and weakness in front of others.

    For some reason, she felt more at ease with Chen Fei.

    Maybe it was because this young man was also a user of supernatural powers.

    "Now I''m the only one left in the Gager family. If you dare tell anyone, I''ll kill you!"

    The female executive manager just raised her hand when she saw Chen Fei''s expression change drastically, and he quickly waved his hands.

    "No, no, no, there''s so little left of what Old Master Barut nted; please don''t bring more disaster upon it."

    A Wind de attack thest time had already destroyed half of it, and this time it looked set forplete annihtion.

    After the 911 Aircrew Base had restored basic regr electricity supply, Chen Fei was allocated a personal power quota of one kilowatt. He transferred all of it to the shed, lighting up seven or eight halogen bulbs and, with a kerosene heater, barely restored some light and warmth to the shed, giving the surviving nts a glimmer of hope for life.

    If Manager Hanna were to unleash a Wind de now, all of Chen Fei''s hard work would have been in vain.

    Fortunately, the female executive manager retained a hint of reason and did not allow Old Master Barut''s efforts to bepletely wiped out.

    "Burp, this is for you!"

    A drunken Hanna Gagel tossed over a "little brick".

    The heavy and solid exterior suggested it was a professional cellphone with excellent protection.

    Among the supplies her uncle McAllen Gager had sent were some highly protected military-grademunication devices which couldn''t be easily burned out by strong electromaic pulses. The quantity was limited, and each middle management member and above had one for daily contact.

    There were also a few units to spare, and for some reason, the female executive manager gave one to Chen Fei.

    It happened that his second-hand old phone had been cooked by an EMP, not even worth repairing, and had been thrown into the recycle bin along with a pile of electronic waste waiting to be recycled. Knowing he was being offered a new phone for free, he took it without any hesitation.

    Now that it was dark outside and, considering the time zone difference, it waste night back home, Chen Fei couldn''t make a phone call to his family to reassure them until the next morning.

    After tossing the military phone to Chen Fei, Hanna Gagel tried to get Chen Fei to drink with her again.

    This time, Chen Fei wasn''t fooled.

    He pretended to bring out some homemade fruit wine that was about to pass its peak vor, which smelled alcoholic but wasn''t strong. Downing six or seven bottles wouldn''t get him nearly as drunk as Manager Hanna was at the moment.

    The female executive manager was already tipsy and had lost her usual sharp vision and keen perceptiveness,pletely unaware of Chen Fei''s sleight of hand.

    After drinking too much, she began to cry out loud.

    After crying, she would howl.

    After howling, she would drink again.

    ... Eventually, she copsed onto Chen Fei''s bed and refused to leave!

    How could two people sleep on a single bed?

    Damn it!

    Having nowhere to argue his case, Chen Fei could only carry the bird''s nest back to his cold dormitory, change out of his dirty clothes, throw them in the sink for a quick scrub, hang them outside to dry, and then head back to bed to make do for the night.

    "Chirp!~"

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s biological clock was more punctual than an rm, waking Daddy up without a second''s discrepancy.

    A pinnacle of green, eco-friendly biotech that didn''t even use electricity,bining sound with vibration.

    After preparing some mealworms and chick feed to satisfy the little bird''s hunger, Chen Fei finished washing up, picked up his newly acquired phone, logged into his personalmunication ount, and dialed a number.

    His younger sister''s number was connected immediately, and an excited voice, trying to be contained, came through.

    "Big brother? Is that you? Big brother? Dad, Mom, it''s Second Brother''s call!"

    It had been at least a week since Chen Fei had called home, and he calmly replied, "Uh-huh! It''s me, how''s everything at home?"

    "Brother, everything''s fine at home..."

    Before Chen Meng could say much more, the voices of a middle-aged man and woman came through.

    "Xiao Meng, ask Xiao Fei if he''s hurt? Is he safe now?"

    "Why is this kid only calling now? He''s had us worried to death."

    The two were Chen Hai and Yu Xiaoyi, the parents of the three siblings, Chen Shi, Chen Fei, and Chen Meng.

    Elder Brother Chen Shi had already started his own family and naturally did not live at home, so now it was just their father, mother, and younger sister Chen Meng at home.

    "My old phone broke, and I''ve only just gotten a new one."

    Chen Fei still had to thank that female executive manager who drank like a cat on a hot tin roof.

    If not for her, he would have had much more trouble just trying to let his family know he was safe.

    Old Master Chen Hai took a deep breath and asked, "Xiao Fei, the ce you work is called the Aircrew Base, right?"

    "Dad, rx, I''m safe here, haven''t been injured."

    Chen Fei immediately guessed that his family must have been informed by now.

    It seems the corporate war between the Merman Brothers Consortium and the Apocalypse Defense Group had rmed many and even made the news.

    Old Master Chen Hai''s voice became stern, "If possible, resign as soon as you can ande back early. Bullets don''t have eyes on the battlefield; we can bite the bullet and pay off the debt. Your life is not worth the risk."

    Better to be a peaceful dog than a person in chaotic times.

    He didn''t want to see his son, Second Brother, in danger. Paying off debts was one thing, risking his life was another.

    "Yeah, Xiao Fei,e back soon!"

    Mom Yu Xiaoyi was also extremely worried.

    Chen Meng, with a crying tone, called out, "Brother, hurry back!"

    Some time ago, she had seen a news video about two private military contractors getting into a dispute, one of which was the Apocalypse Defense Group that Second Brother worked for.

    The footage from the news broadcast showed a besieged Aircrew Base aze with mes, reduced to ruins, which left the family on edge. They immediately took out their phones to call Chen Fei, but they couldn''t contact him no matter what they tried.

    At that moment, their hearts jumped; Chen Fei was unreachable, and no one knew what was actually happening. Corporate wars were no joke; both sides were ruthless as if it were a small-scale war. With no regard for lives, it wouldn''t be surprising if something unfortunate had happened.

    The family urgently tried multiple ways to make contact with the Apocalypse Defense Group, desperate to confirm Chen Fei''s safety.

    However, the Apocalypse Defense Group was currently being aggressively suppressed by the Merman Brothers Consortium through all kinds of tactics, struggling internally and externally amidst chaos, and hardly had the resources to respond to the Chen Family''s inquiries, only offering vague responses.

    The family was helpless and anxious while waiting until Chen Fei''s call finally came through again.

    "Dad, Mom, Xiao Meng, don''t worry about the debt; I will be able to pay it off soon."

    Chen Fei nced at the bird''s nest on the bedside table, inside which the Earth Order Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core emitted a glow thatpletely reced the need for amp.

    This Crystal Core, worth tens of millions of Star Yuan, was his biggest asset in paying off all the debts, but for Chen Fei, it was still far from enough.

    Even if he didn''t have to worry about the enormous debts anymore, he was thinking about earning as much as possible to improve the difficult economic situation at home.

    After all, it was a rare opportunity; working at the Aircrew Base really paid well¡ªno doubt the lendingpany that rmended Chen Fei to this job had thought the same.

    Old Master Chen Hai was adamant, "No, it''s too dangerous; find a way toe back as soon as you can. You can work another job to pay off the debt."

    He couldn''t stand by and watch his Second Brother put himself in danger.

    "Dad, the Aircrew Base is sealed off; I can''t leave at all. I''m actually safer staying here."

    Chen Fei immediately used the incident of Manager Hanna''s uncle, whose transport ne was shot down on the way back, as a shield.

    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to leave; it was that he couldn''t.

    However, the actual situation of the Aircrew Base was even worse.

    It wasn''t just secretly sealed off by the Merman Brothers Consortium; it was even abandoned by the higher-ups of the Apocalypse Defense Consortium.

    If not for Manager Hanna''s uncle, McAllen Gagar, who risked bringing a shipment of supplies, manpower, and a small transport ne, the Aircrew Base would have received no help at all.

    Now the entire base, ambushed on all sides, had reached a state where neither heaven nor earth could respond, fighting a desperate and isted battle.

    -

 Chapter 113: Section 113 - The Best Hunter

    Chen Fei didn''t dare to reveal more of the truth to his parents, fearing that it would only make them worry more.

    After making countless assurances and sweet-talking for a long time, he was finally able to hang up the call, sling his shoulder tool bag over, and take Little Bird to work.

    His dad, mom, and little sister all still believed that Chen Fei was just an apprentice mechanic hiding in the rear echelons, far from the front line, which naturally ensured his safety.

    They had no idea that the unlucky souls who had died at the hands of this honest child already numbered in the double digits, including mages and supernatural power users.

    -

    In this corporate war, as the initiating party, Merman Brothers United would not easily give up, and neither would the female executive manager who had lost her only uncle.

    Despite showing her vulnerable side to Chen Fei in private, Manager Hanna, in the eyes of most people, and most of the time, was a true irondy, never passively waiting to be attacked, always taking the initiative to strike.

    Hanna Gagar even wanted to take the battle to the doorstep of the Merman Brothers Consortium, even into their home, since the main Apocalypse Defense Group was not supportive, she would go it alone.

    Although internal divisions within the Apocalypse Defense Group had intensified and were far from being settled in the short term, Hanna Gagar''s ns still won the support of some group shareholders, which meant the support of directors.

    The death of McAllen Gager was not the only director and shareholder to die during corporate conflicts, not everyone was intimidated; on the contrary, it kindled a shared enmity, as no one wanted to be the next casualty.

    Recently, a heavy transport airship had delivered a massive amount of supplies, and now some directors hade together to advance arge sum of money to Aircrew Base 911, enough to guarantee all employee''s sries for a year, including full bonuses during the time of corporate conflict, all of which was to be paid within three days.

    At least for theing year, Hanna Gagar didn''t need to worry about provisions.

    With strong troops, sturdy horses, and ample provisions, Aircrew Base 911 now possessed strength beyond that of an ordinary aircrew base.

    -

    Step one: Break the blockade of the Merman Brothers Consortium.

    Thump!

    Chen Fei''s head jerked to the side, and he stumbled a few steps but didn''t fall.

    System: Ding! Absorbed 49.15 grams of alloy material,position ratio: tungsten 85%, copper 7%, iron 4%, nickel 3%...

    System: Ding! Suffered gunshot 15/1000 times, gained Energy Points +100!

    Chen Fei said helplessly, "I''ve been shot, direction 5!"

    His head hurt!

    It was genuinely painful!

    Both psychologically and physiologically, it was a double torment.

    Bang!~

    The sound of the gunshot arrived btedly.

    The Dog System had a new mission, and it was particrly perilous.

    Mission list:

    1. Devour 1 ton of metal, gain Energy Points +1 (daily task)

    2. System: Ding! Dance with missiles for a cumtive 18 seconds/60 seconds, move gracefully, gain Energy Points +200!

    3. System: Ding! Suffered gunshot 15/1000 times, gain Energy Points +100!

    4. System: Ding! Suffered shelling 0/10 times, gain Energy Points +100!

    5. System: Ding! Stepped onndmines 0/20 times, gain Energy Points +100!

    It''s not just gunshots...

    Gun execution, shelling,ndmine kills, does this damn system want me dead faster?

    Oh, my life!

    Momentster, another muffled sound came from a distance, followed closely by another.

    The sound of the gun alwaysgged behind the bullet, dyed by one second per three hundred-plus meters; if you were good at mental math, you could roughly calcte the distance to the shooter''s location.

    "Sniper cleared!"

    A deep voice came through his ear.

    Another voice followed closely after.

    "Continue advancing ording to the nned schedule."

    Chen Fei rubbed his head, which had been hit by a 12.7 mm caliber bullet, and continued to walk forward.

    About 1100 meters to the north, two bodiesy among the rocks, spaced more than ten meters apart.

    One''s head was almostpletely blown off, spewing brains everywhere, with arge-caliber sniper rifle propped in front of him, its barrel still warm. The other remained in a dancing posture, arge hole opened in his chest, and a giant multi-mode telescope discarded beside him.

    Whether in the sky or on the ground, the job of "bait," Chen Fei was definitely cut out for it.

    In fact, in Aircrew Base 911, no one was better suited to it than him.

    Others would die immediately if they took a bullet; only Chen Fei could be shot for at least an hour.

    Bullets couldn''t kill him; he could only be worn out by them.

    As the price for acting as bait, at least half of the spoils of war belonged to Chen Fei.

    At an altitude of 12,000, a drone was keeping an eye on Chen Fei''s location.

    This was an air-to-ground integrated bait trap, dynamically capturing prey at random.

    A from heaven to earth sealed off the entire Aircrew Base 911.

    The female executive manager used her enemies'' own tactics against them, weaving another from heaven to earth, and began to silently sweep up the riffraff near the Aircrew Base.

    The armed personnel sent by McAllen Gager for his dear niece were almost all veterans of many battles, whose talents would be wasted if they were merely added to the security team.

    After gaining the support of part of the corporate board, executive manager Hanna Gagel decisively took proactive action.

    She personally led a team of five elite veterans, while another group of elite soldiers, including the greenhorn Chen Fei, started a "hunt" for enemy personnel near Aircrew Base 911.

    The former used high-tech methods, capturing unusual sounds transmitted from all directions by the wind with Wind-type Psionic Ability, amplifying their sense of hearing indefinitely to actively search for targets, and attacking from a distance with sniper rifles or killing up close with their special abilities.

    Thetter, on the other hand, was passively taking hits; if the enemy didn''t move, neither did they, but if the enemy moved, theyy t.

    No enemy would ever pass up such a conspicuously foolishd, and it was at this moment that hunter and prey often appeared together...

    Different methods, but the results were converging paths.

    Like the two-person sniper team that was just killed, within a mere three days, they had sessfully eliminated five groups, and the weapons and ammunition they collected allowed Chen Fei to make a small fortune.

    While the firearms and ammunition didn''t fall into his hands, he could still cash in the small bills.

    After trekking on foot for more than a week, Chen Fei gradually approached Aircrew Base 909.

    The four oversized Tricycles assembled by Aircrew Base 911 had dropped supplies for him and manager Hanna''s hunting team.

    The sixty PT6A series engines stored inside the containers were not only the main engines for the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, but they were also mature general-purpose engines in their own right,pletely sufficient for high-end yer-ss Tricycles, and even somewhat overqualified.

    The oversized Tricycle, with shockingly low technical requirements, had a minimum takeoff weight of 1.1 tons, a rated payload of 1 ton, a top flight speed of 300 kilometers per hour, couldn''t fly very high, and had zero defense¡ªfar less capable than the "Big Mouth Monster".

    But with its excellent controbility, high safety factor, a prototype of eat less, pull more, and run faster, it offers outstanding cost-performance ratio.

    The total carrying capacity of the four oversized Tricycles alone surpassed that of the small transport ne, equivalent to having an additional transport ne¡ªthey could carry people and cargo, and could also be armed temporarily, doubling as attack aircraft against ground targets.

    -

    Perhaps because the retaliation from Aircrew Base 911 was too ruthless (the raid by "Peanut Butter" Chekhov and the greenhorn Chen Fei, both of whom got seriously drunk), apart from Aircrew Base 909 swallowing the bitter fruits of their own seeking, no other aircrew base dared to cooperate with Merman Brothers Consortium, fearing that the fighter jets from Aircrew Base 911 would suddenly emerge, bombarding wildly and killing mercilessly.

    After all, corporate warfare was not just for show; once a decision was made to stand on the opposing side, there was no expecting mercy from the adversary.

    As a result, due to the operational radius limitation ofbat aircraft, the aerial forces of Merman Brothers Consortium were temporarily unable to strike at Aircrew Base 911, which was also out of reach for them.

    Now, only some small tricks on the ground remained, and they were being eliminated one by one.

    It seemed that even the eighth-ranked giant military contractor didn''t gain much advantage, and Merman Brothers Consortium was probably very troubled by Apocalypse Defense Group, which appeared to have a way of predicting the future, having delivered massive supplies to Aircrew Base 911 ahead of time.

    The small Aircrew Base was not at all afraid of a war of attrition and had plenty of resources tost.

    Holding a pair of binocrs, Chen Fei gazed at Aircrew Base 909 in the distance and said, "Manager Hanna, I want to take a look inside 909."

    His request was immediately ryed to the female executive manager located in another direction from Aircrew Base 911.

    Hanna Gagel had just finished a battle, and while wiping off her sweat and holding a satellite phone, she frowned and said, "Rookie, have you discovered anything?"

    Chen Fei candidly replied, "It''s precisely because I haven''t discovered anything."

    If he had discovered something, he wouldn''t be foolishly charging into the enemy''s base.

    From the drone surveince high in the sky, Aircrew Base 909 appeared to have been abandoned, with scars from the aftermath of war everywhere, inplete disarray, without a single figure moving around, and no signs of any cleanup efforts.

    It seemed that after a round of bombing, the survivors did not hesitate to evacuate this base that was almost ttened.

    "Be careful!"

    If Chen Fei hadn''t suddenly awakened a Metal Elemental Psychic Power that made him impervious to swords and guns, Hanna Gagel would never let such a civilian with nobat experience risk entering the ambiguously dangerous Aircrew Base 909 so recklessly.

    500 meters from Aircrew Base 909.

    Without any warning, an enormous force erupted beneath his feet, and amidst the deafening st, Chen Fei was lifted skyward... He ascended to the heavens!

    He shot up more than 30 meters vertically, then free-fell for three and a half rotations with a difficulty factor of 13 (out of a perfect score of 10)¡ªanyone who survived wasn''t human.

    St! Hended face-first in the mud, with a posture as precise as something from a textbook.

    Where was the apuse? Where were the cheers? p p p p... There should be a reward here!

    "Hey, Chen Fei, Chen Fei, are you alright?"

    The earpiece was solidly built, miraculously surviving the explosion, and the dizzy Chen Fei, puffing out a wisp of green smoke, coughed and said, "Just andmine, nothing serious, normal operation, normal operation, I''m fine!"

    System: Ding! Absorbed 11 grams of low carbon steel,position ratio: Iron 99.5%, Carbon...

    System: Ding! Stepped on andmine 1/20 times, received Energy Points +100!

    This could work!

    Ditching the burden, he advanced lightly equipped¡ªfor glory, forward!!!

    -

 Chapter 114: Section 114 - Picking Up Foreign Objects

    Life is notplete without going through several ups and downs; not just three, but in Chen Fei''s case, twenty.

    System: Ding! Stepped on andmine 20/20 times, gained Energy Points +100!

    The tasks of getting shot and bombarded were not yetplete, but stepping onndmines was already done.

    ng!~

    Another one!

    Reality is just like that, full of surprises at every turn.

    It became twenty-one ups, twenty-one downs, disregarding everything, life is perfectly fulfilled, muah!

    Normal operations in the hands of Chen Fei always go awry in the most unimaginable ways.

    It''s an undeniable fact.

    Even the battle-hardened veterans following him, who had seen all sorts of situations, weren''t prepared for this.

    But this time, the rise and fall, up and down, truly opened their eyes to a world they hadn''t seen before.

    Oh yeah... Chen Fei held his crotch, pressed his legs together, this time he truly felt the pain, sucking in cold air for a while before he could catch his breath.

    He imagined Manager Hanna''s impressive figure in his mind.

    That old bear Chekhov had a point, size really does matter!

    This is where the low-tier employee''s fantasizing about his boss ends.

    Chen Fei bravely cleared a path through the minefield near the Aircrew Base 909, walking against the istion wire fencing until an empty human shape emerged, finally stepping into the base for real.

    Looking around in his tattered clothes, Chen Fei said, "No people, no bodies, everything is normal."

    He held his earphone all the way there, preventing the fragilemunication device from being damaged by shrapnel from randomly flyingndmines, or from being broken or crushed when he fell.

    "Everything is normal."

    "Normal!"

    The five veterans split into two sniper teams, locking down Aircrew Base 909 with crossfire.

    They weren''t worried about someone popping out to take a potshot at Chen Fei. In fact, they were rather hoping for it.

    Along the way, the veterans had used their counter-kill strategy to stealthily take down dozens of unlucky foes, ones who could have posed a serious threat to Aircrew Base 911, but who had lost their lives due to a moment of carelessness.

    Chen Fei''s shoes were long gone thanks to the mines, and now he was barefoot, which was just as well since he wasn''t worried about stepping on nails.

    System: Ding! Titanium alloy discovered, 17 grams, absorb? Yes/No |?

    Yes!

    System: Ding! Absorbed 17 grams of titanium alloy,position ratio: titanium 89.98%, aluminum 6%, vanadium 4%...

    Within a certain kic energy range, the system will automatically absorb metal materials.

    Only if it doesn''t fall within or exceeds this range will the system provide a prompt.

    Inside the devastated Aircrew Base 909, various broken metalsy scattered everywhere.

    "Wahoo!~"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help but nod his head.

    He had found a newnd, no, a new mine, and it was chock-full of ore.

    System: Ding! High carbon steel discovered, 235 kilograms, absorb? Yes/No |?

    Yes!

    ...

    System: Ding! Manganese steel discovered, 1.2 tons, absorb? Yes/No |?

    Yes!

    ...

    System: Ding! Energy Points +1!

    System: Ding! Energy Points +1!

    System: Ding! Energy Points +1!

    ...

    Energy Points: 2796/5000

    The Dog System could never have thought that while it had its Zhang Liang''s n, Chen Fei had his owndder over the wall.

    Finding a few thousand tons of metal within an Aircrew Base was easier than eating or drinking.

    Stumbling upon two infantry fighting vehicles provided Chen Fei with 60 energy points.

    Opened "Skill Shop".

    Elemental Dposition: 300 Energy Points

    Buy!

    Elemental Synthesis: 300 Energy Points

    Buy!

    Metal Shaping: 100 Energy Points

    I''ll take it!

    Photoelectric Conversion Component: 100 Energy Points (emit light)

    With Xiao Jiu, the Pure Light Sparrow, a light-element magical beast, who needs to be a light bulb?

    No thanks!

    Alloy Database: 500 Energy Points

    At first nce, it''s rted to elemental dposition, synthesis, and shaping.

    Buy!

    Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (upgradable): 200 Energy Points

    Although the things on the first page of the list are mysterious, they mighte in handy.

    Buy!

    Basic Laser Emitter (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points

    Basic Particle Beam (upgradable): 1000 Energy Points

    Both must be tough items, tough to choose between...

    Laser it is!

    Particle Beam Pration is too strong, it''s easy to hurt one''s own people with it.

    Energy Points: 396/5000

    My Skills:

    1. Metal Devouring

    2. Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes Energy Points 1, Duration 15 seconds, Cooldown 15 seconds)

    3. Secret Technique: Fight to the Death

    4. Physical Evolution Database (3), Categories: None/Administration...(Longsword, Dagger, Blood Spike)

    5. Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (upgradable): 200 Energy Points---Sold Out

    6. Basic Optical Observer Level 2: Low-light Enhancement (Level 3 requires 100 Energy Points) | "Infrared Thermal Imaging" and "Full Spectrum Imaging"

    7. Elemental Dposition

    8. Elemental Synthesis

    9. Alloy Database

    10. Metal Shaping

    11. Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradable) | Not Avable (requires Photoelectric Conversion Component)

    Chen Fei''s gaze fell on thest item on the skill list, and the corner of his mouth twitched... this damn Dog System.

    The skill list had been automatically reorganized, clearly showing that many skills were interrted, not existing in istion.

    Good grief!

    It won''t stop until it squeezes out all my Energy Points.

    Chen Fei gritted his teeth, and he didn''t stand a chance.

    6. Basic Optical Observer Level 2: Low-light Enhancement (Level 3 requires 100 Energy Points) | "Infrared Thermal Imaging" and "Full Spectrum Imaging"

    Upgrade!

    Select "Infrared Thermal Imaging".

    System: Ding! Basic Optical Observer Level 3: Low-light Enhancement, Infrared Thermal Imaging (Level 4 requires 100 Energy Points) | "Full Spectrum Imaging"

    Continue!

    System: Ding! Basic Optical Observer Level 4: Low-light Enhancement, Infrared Thermal Imaging, Full Spectrum Imaging (Level 5 requires 100 Energy Points) | ???

    Ding!

    System: Ding! Basic Optical Observer Level 4: Low-light Enhancement, Infrared Thermal Imaging, Full Spectrum Imaging (Level 5 requires 100 Energy Points) | "Micro Vision," "Ultra-long Vision," "Macroscopic Perspective," "Visual Assistance"

    Damn it!!!

    There''s even an on-site upgrade feature.

    Chen Fei had seen through that the Dog System was clearly one big scam.

    Energy Points: 196/5000

    He pinched his nose and bought the "Photoelectric Conversion Component: 100 Energy Points (Emits Light)."

    Energy Points: 96/5000

    11. Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradable) | Not Avable (Photoelectric Conversion Component not working)

    12. Photoelectric Conversion Component | Not Avable (requires Maoelectric Conversion Component)

    As expected!

    It''s like a Russian nesting doll...

    I guess I''ll have to buy the "Maoelectric Conversion Component" and "Maic Field Management Component" as well.

    System: Ding! "Metal Devouring" skill can only absorb 1000 tons per day, cooldown countdown 52 hours 11 minutes

    Chen Fei £þ¡÷£þ: "..."

    If this Dog System doesn''t have a trick up its sleeve, I''ll eat my hat.

    The only way to get more Energy Points now is to honestlyplete those damn tasks.

    And I''ve got 985 bullets and 10 shellings to endure, just thinking about it is exhausting!

    "Manager Hanna!"

    Chen Fei pressed down on his headset and called again.

    Since he can''t umte Energy Points for now, he might as well take the opportunity to get some real work done.

    "What''s up?"

    The female executive manager, who was fighting in another area, responded immediately.

    "There''s still a lot of good stuff left at Aircrew Base 909, can we figure out a way to take it back?"

    Earlier, when searching for metal materials to absorb, Chen Fei chose selectively, not converting everything into Energy Points rashly.

    The important, valuable items had been set aside.

    "What do you have? You''d better make a list."

    Manager Hanna naturally understood that Aircrew Base 909 had evacuated in a hurry and definitely hadn''t been able to take everything with them.

    The items that were left could certainly be beneficial to Aircrew Base 911.

    "Sure, I can make a list."

    Chen Fei immediately called in the five veterans outside on guard into Aircrew Base 909 and began dividing the work.

    Two veterans were in charge of clearing the runway, while the other three followed Chen Fei to scavenge the entire aircrew base.

    After one day and one night, theypiled a list that spanned over a hundred A4 sheets of paper.

    After reviewing the list, Manager Hanna chose a portion of the materials and sent them back to Chen Fei and Aircrew Base 911.

    The facilities and equipment of the aircrew bases were basically the same, or even exact replicas of the same nning scheme, with many items being highly interchangeable, ready to use straight away, which was just free gain ¡ª an opportunity too good to pass up.

    Even if sold at a fraction of the original value, at least half of it would end up in Chen Fei''s hands, making this deal quite gratifying for everyone involved.

    Fourrge tricycles made long treks one after another, arriving at Aircrew Base 909 to take away the sorted materials.

    In one go, they took away four tons, with a total payload that was quite impressive.

    The materials brought back could allow Aircrew Base 911 to assemble four morerge tricycles. Despite this gadget not being high-tech or particrly strong inbat or defense, its cost-effectiveness was too high, and it was easy to use¡ªanyone could operate it.

    Five hours for a round trip, at least 12 tons could be moved in a day.

    On the third day, the Merman Brothers Consortium and the military contractor that formerly had jurisdiction over Aircrew Base 909, through the satellite that still provided reconnaissance services, finally noticed something was amiss.

    Unidentified individuals had broken into the deserted Aircrew Base 909, and they were not just dismantling but plundering it.

    Thinking over it, if it wasn''t Aircrew Base 911, who else could it be?

    The local Patan People, including those bandits, certainly didn''t have the guts to steal from aircrew bases.

    Boom!~

    The unmanned reconnaissance drone hovering at an altitude of 12,000 meters was blown up by a missile fired from afar, turning it into a fireball.

    "Enemy attack!"

    The veterans of Aircrew Base 911 reacted immediately.

    They had lost the unmanned reconnaissance drone which served as amunication ry and assisted with reconnaissance.

    "We''ve been discovered!"

    Chen Fei rushed out of the tower in a hurry, looking up at the sky.

    He was still holding an electronic circuit board in his hand.

    "Elemental Dposition" was damn useful; these past couple of days, he had dposed a lot of gold from these electronics, with a purity of 99.99999¡Þ%.

    Activating "Basic Optical Observer Level 4," heyered on "Full Spectrum Imaging."

    The color palette of his entire visual field suddenly became rich and dazzling, revealing many things usually invisible, and he spotted the falling fragments of the unmanned reconnaissance drone at first nce.

    He immediately shouted, "There''s another missile, find cover fast."

    -

 Chapter 115: Section 115 - Testing the Edge of the Secret Technique

    The veterans didn''t hesitate to rush into the underground air defense facility.

    There were often more than one entrance, which on one hand allowed personnel from various departments to seek cover in a timely manner, and on the other hand, it prevented a situation where the destruction of one entrance would result in the whole pot being lifted.

    Chen Fei also nned to take cover in the air defense facility, but just as he lifted his foot, he discovered "Dance with the missiles for a cumtive 19 seconds/60 seconds, make sure the posture is elegant, gain Energy Points +200!"

    Huh???

    Seconds can be gained like this?

    Could it be that the ''Dance with the missiles'' not only pertains to the sky but also the ground?

    So... let''s dance, let''s all dance together.

    666, turn it up!

    Dance, my foot!

    Who would dance when missiles are falling? Isn''t this anti-human?

    Quickly grabbing two heavy steel tes and stacking them together, he prepared to face the impact.

    The stuffed system had no reaction at all, no longer reminding him of the weight or whether to absorb.

    The metal he had previously absorbed was just a small part of the entire Aircrew Base, and now "Metal Devouring" was still cooling off, another two hours before he could continue absorbing metal.

    Missiles trailing mes and thick smoke descended in an instant from the sky.

    Boom!~

    System: Ding! Dance with the missiles for a cumtive 23 seconds/60 seconds, make sure the posture is elegant, gain Energy Points +200!

    The steel tes proved unreliable.

    The mes engulfed Chen Fei''s location, and the two steel tes,bined weighing over five hundred pounds, were twisted and deformed like paper, blown away on the spot.

    Along with the steel tes, Chen Fei was flung out as well, crashnding a dozen meters away.

    "Pfft!~ That''s a strong one!"

    It took over a minute for Chen Fei to regain his senses, dazed.

    He was too resilient now, if it were someone else, it would have been questionable whether all their parts could be found intact after such a surface-to-air missile strike.

    A crackling noise came through the earpiece, followed by total silence.

    Even the best electronic equipment can''t withstand such a close-range impact, and it finally broke down.

    Noticing that Chen Fei was still outside, without having entered the underground air defense facility, the old soldiers peeked out from the entrance, taking advantage of the dispersing gunpowder smoke. However, they almost jumped out of their skin when they saw Chen Fei, who seemed to have changed into a different race.

    Just as Chen Fei was about to say something, it was as if a torrential downpour had started around him, dust was bursting in clumps, countless red trajectories fell from the sky, relentlessly pounding him to the ground.

    In the rattle of gunfire, Chen Fei struggled to raise a thumbs-up to the veterans not far away, signaling he was still OK.

    System: Ding! Hit by gunfire 35/1000 times, gain Energy Points +100!

    This thing doesn''t care about the caliber, only the bullets.

    "Metal Devouring" was still cooling, and the scene of flying bullets was too frightening; the old soldiers quickly retreated.

    Ricocheting bullets could still kill a person.

    "Yeah, that''s it, hit me harder, feels great!~"

    Enjoying the massage from 12.7mm machine-gun bullets, Chen Feiy on the ground; the missile explosion was like someone swinging an 800-pound hammer, brutal to the extreme.

    But the 12.7mm bullets were like sissy punches, each blow directly to the flesh, kneading the muscles loose, unspeakably satisfying.

    The only issue was that the ground was a bit dirty, the dust kicked up was choking; ah, why bother with such details, just enjoy the moment and that''s that.

    "Whoo!~"

    An A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft roared past at low altitude.

    Four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters lined up side by side and advanced across the skies of the 909 Aircrew Base.

    "System, ''Blood Spike''!"

    After enjoying a round of rough massage, Chen Fei shook his head and staggered to his feet.

    System: Ding! Cold Weapon "Blood Spike" evolution time 0/120 seconds!

    Chen Fei ¦²(¤Ã¡ã

    Two minutes for preparation time, what use are you to me?

    Wait, there is an "Evolution elerator Level 0 (0-9)" in the Skill Shop: 500 Energy Points.

    I knew it, no skill is redundant. Picking and choosing is definitely a mistake; the correct way to do it is by number, buying them one by one in order, all neatly organized first thing in the morning.

    Feels like I''m about to be scammed again.

    Ten seconds passed, and thenguid "Blood Spike" still hadn''t taken form, while the four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters had already swept past, not having expected that someone could survive after a direct missile strike, followed by random shots from a 12.7mm calibre machine-gun.

    Cold Weapon "Blood Spike" evolution time 65/120 seconds, need to hang on for another 55 seconds.

    No more waiting!

    Chen Fei, with a dirt-smudged face, charged into the clear space, flipping the middle finger at the four big guys.

    "Hey! I''m here,e hit me!"

    The AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopter formation, having circled a wide area without finding any targets or receiving any attacks, finally turned back, ready to search once more.

    But then they saw a fool jumping and dancing on the ground, shaking his head and waving his arms, twisting his waist.

    What... what is this situation?

    The armed helicopter pilots were all baffled.

    The four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters slowly circled in, their 30mm cannons aimed at Chen Fei, but they didn''t fire; it seemed they were still hesitant.

    Cold Weapon "Blood Spike" evolution time 82/120 seconds

    It wasn''t until Chen Fei bent down to pick up a rock and smashed a small white spot onto the windshield of one of the armed helicopters.

    The consequences were no different from poking a ho''s nest.

    Man, that''s some boldness!

    Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat¡­ the 30mm cannons of the four armed helicopters focused fire together.

    Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch¡­ Chen Fei was in disarray amidst the barrage of bullets.

    "¡­Oh¡­Ah¡­Eek¡­Aow¡­Ha¡­Ugh¡­"

    Hail the Gatling Bodhisattva, with thirty-millimeter armor-piercing shells, firing four thousand eight hundred rounds in a single breath, mercifully transporting the souls of the world.

    The 30mm caliber cannon shells are almost 2.4 times thicker than the 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullets, but their power isn''t just 2.4 times greater¡ªit''s at least four or five times more.

    The "Metal Devouring" that was poorly digested made the projectile heads bounce chaotically again.

    ¡­

    System: Ding! Hit by shellfire 174/10 times, gained Energy Points +100!

    ¡­

    System: Ding! Hit by shellfire 584/10 times, gained Energy Points +100!

    ¡­

    System: Ding! Hit by shellfire 748/10 times, gained Energy Points +100!

    ¡­

    Unknowingly hit by shellfire more than seventy times the limit, he instantlypleted a mission.

    This Dog System could clearly distinguish between bullets, missiles, andndmines.

    The angry Fire Control Operators were pressing hard on the cannon firing buttons, and the ammunition carried by the armed helicopters was quickly depleted.

    The four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters'' rapidly rotating rotor des stirred up the airflow and swiftly dispersed the lingering dust. Just as they were about to confirm their firing results, a slender object suddenly shot out from the almost cleared haze, piercing through one of the AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters the next second.

    Bang!~

    The attacked helicopter rapidly burst into mes and plummeted toward the ground, exploding on impact with the ammunition in a huge fireball rising into the air.

    "''Fox Hunting Bow'' has been shot down, target not neutralized! Warning, the target is still alive! The target is still alive!"

    "Gain altitude, gain altitude, use rockets!"

    "He''s there, I see him!"

    The other three AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters frantically responded.

    "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death!"

    Silver-white luminescent patterns emerged on the surface of his body as the towering figure reached out and magically pulled back the long, thin, cold weapon, which had flown over a hundred meters away,nding precisely back in his hand.

    Over a dozen rockets came hurtling towards him.

    Just slightly sidestepping, the "Blood Spike" trembled and buzzed, then struck out like lightning more than a dozen times, each precisely targeting the tip of each rocket.

    Boom, boom, boom, boom¡­

    Huge fireballs that kept expanding engulfed the figure who wasbating firearms with a cold weapon in an instant.

    "Report on damage effect!"

    "Direct hits with rockets, all¡­"

    It was a silent, swift shadow that streaked forth, effortlessly piercing through the bulletproof windshield that could withstand light firearms, diving straight into the chest of the helpless pilot in the front seat, emerging from his back, continuing its unwaning momentum through the seat, and into the chest of the Fire Control Operator behind, piercing through again without a second''s pause, and fiercely embedding itself into the internal structure of the armed helicopter before shooting out towards the distance.

    Two trails of smoke abruptly rose from the ground, striking the other two ascending armed helicopters one after the other.

    Chen Fei''s five veteran soldiers hadn''t been idle; they had seized the opportunity to use man-portable air-defense missiles to shoot down two AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters that were caught off guard.

    The retreat from the Aircrew Base 909 was hasty and left behind a lot of weapons and ammunition, including the two man-portable air-defense missiles that had just beenunched.

    "Come back!"

    Chen Fei casually beckoned.

    The "Blood Spike", diagonally lodged in the distant ground, seemed tethered by an invisible force and flew back into his hand once more.

    Individual Information:

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 150/12

    Burst Strength: 790/60

    Fullness: 75%

    Active Time: 12 hours

    Energy Points:

    Secret Technique sustain time 60 seconds (can be paused)

    Not only was his strength increased by more than tenfold, but even his reflexes became extraordinary, as if time itself slowed down, allowing him to leisurely use the "Blood Spike" to precisely detonate each rocket.

    The "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" augmented his Physical Energy values to the same levels as "Eyes of Tyranny"; it seems to fully exploit the limits of Chen Fei''s physical potential without further room for improvement. However, the former greatly surpasses thetter in enhancing burst strength, with every movement carrying a terrifying, non-human monstrous strength.

    Yet, it consumes considerable amounts of fullness, causing rapid hunger and significantly shortening active time.

    Moreover, unlike "Eyes of Tyranny," which can be reactivated after cooldown, it appears that once the 60 seconds are up, one needs to eat a lot to replenish fullness and wait for Physical Energy recovery to umte more "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" duration.

    No wonder Manager Hanna said that the Neanderthals'' Secret Techniques were too domineering, like a double-edged sword that harms both the user and the enemy. Such forced consumption would eventually deplete the body.

    But for the elite warriors of the Neanderthal tribe, their fate is to die on the battlefield; they probably never live long enough to die of old age, making a long life utterly meaningless.

    Chen Fei didn''t dare try to activate both "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" and "Eyes of Tyranny" at the same time; his body probably couldn''t handle such exertion.

    -

 Chapter 116: Section 116 - Slumber

    "Supernatural power user, there is a supernatural power user!"

    Another one that slipped through the, the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft circling above the Aircrew Base, the two pilots in the cockpit were terrified beyond belief.

    Being able to withstand missiles, machine guns, autocannons, and rockets with the flesh, such an existence was very likely a B-rank supernatural power user.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" didn''t hesitate to elerate away, fearing being plucked from the sky if it flew too slow.

    Before Chen Fei could make a move, a man-portable air-defense missile soared into the sky, the seasoned soldiers had made their move once again.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, struggling to escape, desperately tossed out glittering jamming bullets.

    Boom!~

    The too-tempted man-portable air-defense missile collided with a dazzling red jamming bullet about 300 meters above the ground, instantly bursting into a shower of fire and rain.

    Another man-portable air-defense missile whistled into the sky, the old soldiers striking with a sense of rhythm, one after another.

    Unfortunately, the enemy''s "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop had already sessfully elerated, and before the missile from behind could catch up, it had escaped beyond firing range.

    The missile, having lost its target, fell helplessly and executed a dyed self-destruct program.

    The silhouette of the turboprop quickly disappeared from sight.

    The size and weight of man-portable air-defense missiles were obvious, theirbat efficacy naturally could not bepared to the programmablebat bombs aboard aircraft; the guidance technology was more than a generation behind. Catching the enemy off guard was one thing, but if the opponent was prepared, the hit rate naturally dropped significantly.

    "Chen Fei, are you okay?"

    The old soldiers approached Chen Fei holding a nket.

    After enduring such a relentless bombing, his clothes were definitely not spared, and they were already used to such sights.

    If this had happened to an ordinary person, they would definitely be treated as a monster, but for supernatural power users with all kinds of abilities, it was nothing unusual.

    Taking the nket and wrapping it around himself, Chen Fei couldn''t help but yawn, saying with an indefinable tiredness, "Thank you, I''m fine. I''m just a bit tired, and my headset is dead."

    "Secret Technique: Fight to the Death" was only used for fifteen seconds, but it was enough to make him understand what this Secret Technique was all about.

    "Go take a shower and have a good rest!"

    Having spent many days together, the old soldiers had grown familiar with Chen Fei''s temperament.

    He disyed none of the haughtiness often found in supernatural power users. Instead, he was like the boy next door, sunny and affable, approachable, sometimes even a bit goofy, which easily endeared him to others.

    In the midst of battle, he dared to fight, dare to charge, and dare to be fierce, even to the point of not sparing himself, embodying a spirit that was truly a rare find among good men, exactly to the old soldiers'' tastes, instantly narrowing the distance between them.

    "I''ll leave the rest to you guys. Call me if somethinges up. I''m going to take a shower, then eat something, and get some sleep afterward. I can''t help it; I''m too sleepy."

    Chen Fei could not help but yawn again, shaking his head and bracing himself as he walked towards the entrance of the underground air-raid shelter.

    Down below there was a separate living area, still in good function.

    Many of the facilities and supplies inside the Aircrew Base were still usable, with backup power turned on, taking a hot shower was no problem at all, and there were even clean clothes for changing. If possible, he wouldn''t mind staying for a few more days, enjoying the free food, drink, and lodging.

    After a hasty wash, he felt even sleepier.

    Chen Fei held chopsticks in his hand, waiting for the self-heating food to finish heating, but as he waited, his eyelids grew heavier.

    Gradually, the sound of snoring began to rise.

    He sat there and, without realizing it, fell asleep.

    ¡­

    "Cheep!~ Cheep!~ Cheep!~"

    A slight touch came across his face, and Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes.

    He saw the familiar ceiling or, more precisely, the iron sheeting of the steel structure shed.

    Turning his head to the side, he immediately saw the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower riddled with bullet holes.

    If his memory served him right, he should have been in the underground air-raid shelter of the Aircrew Base, sitting at the dining table and waiting for the self-heating food to be ready.

    But now, this was clearly the shed of the 911 Aircrew Base.

    What was going on?

    Chen Fei sat up, puzzled, as a flurry of wing pping reached his ears.

    "Cheep!~"

    He saw the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu''s glossy ck eyes, stretched out his hand, and as if teasing a dog, scratched under its sharp beak.

    The little bird blinked its eyes and hopped onto Chen Fei''s finger.

    It chirped yfully once more.

    Feeling its weight, the little one seemed to have gained heft, and there were faint traces of light flowing as if rippling on the surface of its sleek, ck feathers, suggesting that the Light Beast Crystal Core had brought it considerable benefits that manifested immediately.

    "Xiao Jiu, I''m not dreaming, right?"

    "Cheep!"

    "How did I get back here? Do you know?"

    "Cheep!~"

    "Who could have done this?"

    "Cheep!~"

    Creak!

    The door of the shed was suddenly pushed open, and Chef Abel''s booming voice came through.

    "Little darling, look what uncle has brought you to eat. Don''t bother yourzy pig dad; he''s not a princess. You could kiss him ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times and he wouldn''t wake up. Ah-oh..."

    Mr. Abel, carrying a big bag of stuff, met eyes with Chen Fei who was sitting on the edge of the bed; his voice abruptly stuck, and he immediately put on a smile, saying, "You big oaf, you''re awake!"

    "Cheep!~"

    Little Bird turned around, tilting its head to look at Abel, and then turned back to look at Daddy Chen Fei.

    "Mr. Abel, I have some questions that I would like to ask you. Please, have a seat over here."

    Chen Fei nonchntly pointed to the chair beside the bed.

    The majority of the space inside the steel structure shack was upied by various nts, leaving only enough room for the energy tower, the necessary paths for movement, and the limited personal living area. The single bed and the furniture for receiving guests were squeezed together, but it was still more spacious than a cramped single dormitory.

    "Hehe, go on, tell me!"

    Chef Abel obediently came over, his heart pounding with uneasiness, yet he feignedposure.

    "Mr. Abel, if I didn''t have that crystal core, and something were to happen to me, of course, I''d be more than willing to entrust Xiao Jiu to your care, but now... I''m sorry!"

    With a shrug of his shoulders, Chen Fei made Chef Abel''s face twitch.

    Apart from itself, the person Xiao Jiu was closest to inside the Aircrew Base 911 was Chef Abel, who was often entrusted with its care. But now, Chen Fei had to consider his own family.

    Little Bird needed that Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, but for Chef Abel, this core wasn''t a blessing; it was a curse.

    The promises of the Metallic Dragons were guarantees that no one dared to ignore, whether on Blue Star or Cangqiong Star.

    If it appeared in the hands of anyone other than Chen Fei, it would surely bring deadly trouble.

    Out of ten Metallic Dragons, nine are mad, and the tenth is on the verge of madness, so no one wants to voluntarily provoke these creatures whose brains aren''t quite right, or possibly don''t have brains at all.

    Of course, family inheritance is the only exemption.

    Chef Abel''s smile had be a bit stiff as he said, "Uh, I, I''m aware of that."

    But truthfully, he really liked Little Bird and had never coveted that Magical Beast Crystal Core worth millions of Star Yuan.

    If it hadn''t been for that reason, Chen Fei would not have entrusted Xiao Jiu to his care.

    Little Bird was incredibly smart; it knew who treated it well and who did not, and it never forgot.

    Like the scheming Pu Aihua, even though he went to great lengths to get chicken feed and mealworms, he still couldn''t get close to Xiao Jiu.

    It was only natural for it to loathe him since he had lusted over Little Bird at first sight.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "I want to know, how did I get back here?"

    Chef Abel couldn''t quite believe his ears and asked worriedly, "Ah! You don''t know? Did you hit your head?"

    How did I get back here?

    Don''t you have any idea?

    "Of course not!"

    Chen Fei immediately shook his head.

    How could he not know if his head had been injured?

    "You were brought back strapped to a gyrone."

    It was at this moment that someone else entered the shack.

    "Rookie, are you awake?"

    Chen Fei and Chef Abel both stood up spontaneously.

    "Manager Hanna!"

    "Manager Hanna!"

    "There''s still soup on the stove, I have to hurry back."

    Upon seeing the one-eyed female manager, Chef Abel was as a mouse seeing a cat, hastily finding an excuse to make a quick getaway.

    He might have been able to slip away, but Chen Fei had no such luck.

    "Manager Hanna, why have youe back?"

    No sooner had he spoken, than he realized it was a pointless question.

    If he had already returned to Aircrew Base 911, then it wasn''t at all surprising that the female executive manager was close behind.

    The executive manager, Hanna Gagar, spoke unhurriedly, "There''s been a new development in the corporate war. Aircrew Base 909 has been retaken by Merman Brothers Consortium, not just 909, but also 910, 912, and 913. These four aircrew bases are now all owned by Merman Brothers Consortium, and Aircrew Base 911 is now truly besieged on all sides."

    With the example of Aircrew Base 909, the other three nearby aircrew bases, 910, 912, and 913, naturally didn''t have the courage to coborate with the Merman Brothers Consortium.

    If they provoked retaliation from 911, the loss would outweigh the gain.

    So the aggressive Merman Brothers Consortium immediately demonstrated their deep-pocketed industry leader prowess by buying out the contractors and aircrew bases all in one fell swoop, with an offer no one could refuse.

    As a result, for Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar to keep filching Aircrew Base 909 was now pointless.

    The game had changed and if they did not adapt, they would definitely get hammered.

    Aircrew Base 911 temporarily didn''tck supplies, but what about personnel?

    Having lost the strong backing of Apocalypse Defense, if the Merman Brothers Consortium were determined to pay with lives, Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''tst even a day.

    "No problem, when friendse we have good wine, when enemiese we have shotguns, let''s just fight it out."

    Chen Fei wasn''t concerned about the situation at Aircrew Base 911.

    At this critical juncture, it wasn''t a matter of begging for mercy or seeking peace. Both sides were bound to have a fierce confrontation.

    Our ancestors told us, peace is never talked into existence, it''s fought for.

    "Now there''s another question, what on Earth did you do to end up in deep sleep for 24 hours, unreachable even by shouting?"

    The female executive manager''s gaze, with her one remaining eye, continuously scanned Chen Fei, making him feel ufortably scrutinized.

    "I didn''t do anything, ahhh, I guess I tried a Neanderthal tribe''s Secret Technique."

    Finally, Chen Fei remembered. After activating the 15-second Secret Technique, he felt inexplicably exhausted and eventually fell asleep without realizing it. He had not expected to sleep so deeply.

    -

 Chapter 117: Section 117 - Riding a Tiger, Its Hard to Dismount

    "Stop trying things at random and focus on themon powers of other Metal Ability Users. There are only you and me, the supernatural power users at the 911 Aircrew Base. We must maintain ourbat strength at all times and can''t afford to slip up when it counts."

    The executive manager, Hanna Gagel, wasn''t actually very surprised.

    Every Ability Awakener is a death-defying daredevil, especially since special abilities are a new phenomenon, andprehensive systematized information on them has yet to be fullypiled. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be a need to develop Supernatural Ability Suppressants, allowing newly awakened power users to go through an adaptation period.

    If one shot doesn''t solve the problem, then use two.

    If two shots aren''t enough, then three, until they learn to stabilize and control their abilities.

    Embracing risk is amon situation for beginners who can''t fully control their abilities just yet. There are cases where they even tire themselves out to the point of not being able to wake up, not to mention idents that result in their own demise.

    Under normal circumstances, new power users would attend a government-established Supernatural Adaptability Training ss for three to six months until they pass the test for the safe application of abilities, ensuring they don''t harm themselves or others.

    The 911 Aircrew Base, located in the sparsely popted Xingdu Kush Mountain Area,cks proper facilities. As a Wind-type Ability User, Manager Hanna has to put in the extra effort to personally supervise this rookie.

    Even with an uncle who holds shares and board authority in the Apocalypse Defense Group, she could only get seasoned veterans and technicians to help her, but still no supernatural power users, mages, or War Professionals. Such rare talents are not easily convinced to risk their lives for others.

    Only a giant military contractor ranked eighth in the industry can afford to sustain these specialized talents, and even then, their numbers are limited. A night raid that should have been a sure victory ended up with the loss of a Mage and two supernatural power users, which was a bitter pill to swallow.

    Chen Fei''s Metal Elemental Psychic Power is a rarebat-oriented ability, very pure and well-suited for the frequentbat missions of the Aircrew Base.

    Now, the Meman Brothers Consortium, using its industry giant advantage, has adopted a high-pressure encirclement strategy. If the 911 Aircrew Base wants to keep fighting, they can''t afford to suddenly lose thebat power of a warrior-type superpower user.

    Manager Hanna demands that Chen Fei''s State is always ready for battle, and forbids him from messing around any further.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Since we''re nowpletely surrounded by enemies, do we continue to fight?"

    After all, corporate warfare is just a "personal dispute" among military contractors, nowhere near the crazy levels of Sovereignty-level figures.

    In this business, everyone is just trying to earn their bread; no one would deliberately pick a fight with profit.

    If the Meman Brothers Consortium wants topletely take over the 911 Aircrew Base, they will have to pay a cost far beyond the norm.

    "From the day my uncle died, 911 has been 911, and Apocalypse Defense has been Apocalypse Defense. Not a single person in the Gagar Family is a wimp."

    Hanna Gagel red fiercely at Chen Fei¡ªif he dared let half a "no" slip through his teeth, she would shred him into eighty thousand pieces.

    Hanna''s father, a hardliner, left the shares and board seat of the Apocalypse Defense Group to his own brother, McAllen Gagel, in his will, making for a proper fraternal session.

    Now, since McAllen Gagel met with misfortune, Hanna Gagel, ording to the will of the two brothers, is the sole heir to these rights, but she still refuses to admit defeat.

    Stubbornness runs deep in the Gagar Family. Once they set their minds on something, not even eight hundred oxen could pull them back.

    Even now,pletely surrounded, Hanna Gagel ns to fight the Meman Brothers Consortium to the very end, refusing to surrender or concede.

    Chen Fei frankly said, "But the uing battles will be tough."

    Manager Hanna is determined to tough it out, but the entire 911 Aircrew Base is more than just her affair.

    After all, a corporate war isn''t about mortal enmity; no knot is too tight to untie.

    "I understand, but they''re not nning to let us go. To be precise, they won''t spare anyone."

    The executive manager took out her mobile phone, connected to thework, tapped a few times, and then handed it to Chen Fei.

    The screen disyed a news article.

    "Shocking news: Third Era Civilization resurfaces as Neanderthal Elite Warriors attack Aircrew Base..."

    There was a flurry of rted text with several apanying images.

    The figures in the images made Chen Fei involuntarily grin.

    The figure covered in silver patterns was identified as an elite warrior from the remnants of the Third Era Civilization, and the silver-white light from the tattoos was strong evidence of the Neanderthal Secret Techniques. A handful of ambitious Neanderthal scoundrels were allegedly attempting to stir up another great war among the Three Realms.

    This barrage of usations connecting them to the remnants of the Third Era Civilization seemed intended to obliterate the livelihoods of everyone at the 911 Aircrew Base, since acting against the Blue Star Humans was certain misfortune¡ªa social death, to be exact.

    Below it, there was another news article directly challenging the previous one.

    "Neanderthal humanitarian organization speaks out: This is an outright case of racial persecution."

    Chen Fei: "..."

    What''s all this got to do with anything!

    ```

    Big Mao and Er Mao, the two brothers, fought, leaving a rabbit who was watching the excitement from far away to take the me and was ordered to be responsible for it.

    These nonsensical news reports made Hanna Gagel both cry andugh; she certainly knew who that guy covered in silver patterns was, but these conspiracy theories were just too far-fetched.

    "You, a Neanderthal warrior?"

    Regardless of which side or even including the civilian organizations of the real Neanderthal tribe, their voice was based on the "actual" existence of a Neanderthal elite warrior.

    No wonder Old Master Barutmented the lost glory of the Neanderthal tribe before he passed away.

    Over the past thirty years, the surviving Neanderthal elite warriors had dwindled, not dying from disease, then from old age; the transmission of secret techniques had long been broken, with no new elite warriors emerging. The Neanderthal descendants who gradually integrated into the Homo Sapiens family also gave up on treatment, choosing to lie t.

    The secret techniques of the Neanderthal tribe gradually became legend, perhaps only appearing as special effects in films and television dramas.

    Now, out of the blue, a "Neanderthal elite warrior" wielding a cold weapon against modernbat aircraft emerged, and even gained an overwhelming advantage.

    Many people who had full bellies but nothing better to do immediately got excited¡ªholy shit, the visual effects were MAX.

    A bunch of bandwagon news, conspiracy theories, Madonna factions, peace theories, extremism... All sorts of monsters and demons came onto the stage in turn, spouting nonsense recklessly, full of ridiculousmentary.

    However... the truth was too cruel for all parties involved.

    "So they want to cut costs and use external forces to strike at the Aircrew Base 911 to maintain their number eight position in terms of deterrence?"

    After reading those news stories that were far from the truth, Chen Fei immediately understood what was going on¡ªthe truth didn''t matter at all!

    The Merman Brothers Consortium had grand designs that escted to the strategic level. It was an open conspiracy that no one could avoid or refuse.

    "You''re right, these capitalists are starting to feel the pinch from the cost they''ve paid and want to stabilize their base."

    The executive manager nodded.

    As expected of a university student capable of graduate studies, his mind worked fast, and he saw through the surface to the essence immediately.

    Once it involves strategy, even if one achieves tactical victories, it can bepletely negated by strategic failure, ending up as a loss greater than the gains.

    And that''s the situation Aircrew Base 911 is facing now. Despite repelling the Merman Brothers Consortium''s attacks time and again andpletely blowing up Aircrew Base 909...

    The opponent suddenly opened up a new battlefield, sucking Aircrew Base 911, which had lost the backup of the Apocalypse Defense Group, into a deeper quagmire, facing more baseless pressures, and their strength could not be exerted.

    "Is there no one to speak a word of justice?"

    Chen Fei found it hard to believe that he could see the problem, so why didn''t anyone else realize it.

    The infighting was far from simple.

    "Because it''s not worth it! From another perspective, the Merman Brothers Consortium must regret that they acquired Aircrew Base 897, because it was not picking up a bargain, but rather being suckered."

    Although Hanna Gagel was prepared to fight to the death, she was not ignorant of reality.

    With multiple sources of intelligence and information, she knew even more. The world does not have that many what-ifs.

    It was always aughing matter for Aircrew Base 911, with its strength and position, to reason with industry giants.

    The giants initially just nned to crush them effortlessly, but didn''t expect to press onto a tack instead. After suffering from the pain, would they ce the tack properly with courtesy? Of course not¡ªthey would bring a hammer and tten the tack before tossing it into the trash. Otherwise, the breath trapped in their chest wouldn''t dissipate, the thought wouldn''t resolve.

    Now the Merman Brothers Consortium was determined to turn Aircrew Base 911 into the scapegoat to intimidate their peers; otherwise, their position as number eight in the industry would surely be questioned and even challenged.

    The ensuing series of troubles and the damage caused were definitely not as simple as just an Aircrew Base 911.

    Aircrew Base 911 was now in a difficult position to dismount, and for giants like the Merman Brothers Consortium, it was the same.

    There were no people with understanding in the world; they were all ying dumb or ying deaf and mute, orughing off...

    A few days after the news of the "Neanderthal elite warrior" came out, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee finally made a statement.

    They formed a Joint Investigation Team to verify the "Neanderthal elite warrior" captured by the Merman Brothers Consortium and to confirm the existence of any Third Era Civilization''s hidden forces.

    The military contractors fought viciously in corporate warfare behind closed doors, but it was still a matter among the Blue Star Humans themselves. It had only been thirty years since the end of the war among the Three Realms, and the psychological shadows of that war were still present as many people had personally experienced it.

    Even though the Neanderthal tribe was gradually integrating into Blue Star human society, and the clouds of war had dispersed without causing more trouble, it was still impossible for everyone to let down their guardpletely. They feared that someone with ambition was secretly plotting some nefarious scheme.

    -

    ```

 Chapter 118: Section 118 - Dominant

    Today''s Neanderthal tribe is but a dwindling minority, scattered across the world without even a proper settlement, and the number of hybrid offspring within the tribe is increasing. In another forty or fifty years, it may be very difficult to find a pure-blooded Neanderthal.

    This situation cannot be said to bepletely natural, as there are shadows of covert maniption by some Sovereign Level bigwigs.

    Being able to assimte a foreign group without giving people any excuses, the end result is one that everyone can be happy about.

    It is best that existences like the Neanderthal Elite Warriors do not appear again.

    Now, a super tough guy has suddenly appeared, capable of taking on four AH-72 "O''naida" armed helicopters. To say there is no sense of crisis would definitely be a lie.

    This indicates that the Neanderthal tribe, amid reducing their numbers intentionally or unintentionally, still has a trick up their sleeve. What do these unrepentant troublemakers want to do?

    There has always been a bit of worry and cautiousness in the dark, and now that it has suddenly be tangible, it caught people somewhat off guard.

    On the third day after the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee released the news, a small Sky Patrol Ship, escorted by two Crystal Jets, arrived at the 911 Aircrew Base.

    The Sky Patrol Ship, which resembles an iron, is also an important atmospheric transport aircraft. However, it is not of the same technological system as the Magic Cube Transport Ship that had previously visited the 911 Aircrew Base. Its carrying capacity is somewhat inferior, but its flight speed and endurance are better.

    Production is limited due to reliance on the essential SEG core unitponents, which are very costly.

    To date, the SEG core units that have been put into application are basically still reliant on the dismal yield rate of manual production. If the processing precision is not up to par, it produces nothing but scrap iron without any recyble value. Rather than yield rate, it might as well be called luck rate.

    Inparison, although the Metallic Dragons can also produce SEG core units with a yield rate that can reach one hundred percent, their annual output still falls short of manual production due to the dragons'' sheerziness.

    Apart from the Sky Patrol Ships, which are highly dependent on the SEG core units, arge batch of Crystal Jets are waiting for the instation of small SEG core units, so theirbat capabilities can undergo a qualitative leap.

    Only Crystal Jets equipped with small SEG core units qualify to be true National Treasure Artifacts.

    Limited by the production capacity of SEG core units, the Sky Patrol Ships tend to be rtively small in size, with scarcity lending them value as high-end aircraft signifying status and position.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium''s blockade of the 911 Aircrew Base from four directions does not mean they have the courage to intercept the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee.

    Behind the Global United Defense Committee are more than a dozen Sovereign Level forces. With the strength and resources of the Private Military Contractors, even if the top hundred in the industrybined, they still wouldn''t withstand a casual p from the bigwigs backing the Committee members.

    -

    As the executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel, along with another supernatural power user, Chen Fei, personally went to the tarmac to meet them.

    An hour before the arrival of the small Sky Patrol Ship, the 911 Aircrew Base received the list of investigation team members.

    Watching the people step out of the Sky Patrol Ship one by one, Hanna Gagel whispered, "Twelve E-rank supernatural power users, four D-rank, two C-rank, two Mages, one Human Order Third Rank, one Human Order Seventh Rank, four War Professionals, all at or above Human Order Fourth Rank, and more than forty ordinary people apanying."

    Luckily, she had brought Chen Fei with her, with two supernatural power users together to receive them.

    Many supernatural power users, Mages, and War Professionals look down on ordinary people, always feeling superior and acting as if they are no longer mere mortals, which is quite nauseating to behold.

    If they saw the other two vice managers, they would probably not be shown any kindness.

    "They''re probably here for that Neanderthal Elite Warrior, most likely to silence him," said Chen Fei, fully aware of the situation. Such an extravagant lineup could not only strike the 911 Aircrew Base but could tten the Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry, without an issue. And the ones getting ttened would probably cheer them on.

    But he wasn''t worried at all, for there wasn''t a single Neanderthal hair left at the 911 Aircrew Base ¨C the old man had turned to ash. He didn''t believe those people would go so far as to dig up graves.

    Unfortunately, the Apocalypse Defense Group, the parentpany of the 911 Aircrew Base, dropped the ball at the critical moment and was not at all supportive. Not only did they not assist, but they also hindered the base.

    Otherwise, if the Merman Brothers Consortium had faced timely counteractions during their strategic moves, it wouldn''t have been necessary to alert the Global United Defense Committee and cause such a hugemotion.

    911 Aircrew Base, a unit that always acts rather than talks,cks people, experience, and channels to participate in a war of words. Unable to make their voice heard ced them in an unfair situation.

    Manager Hanna whispered her instructions, "Be cautious, don''t let them take advantage of the situation."

    She disliked these scheming and maniptive tactics and longed for the days when she was in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where catching someone red-handed led to immediate arrest, without all this evasion and consideration.

    But the uninvited guests were up to no good, like the tax bureau ¨C they never left empty-handed. Once they arrived, if they couldn''t find an issue, they would create one.

    Otherwise, wouldn''t the Joint Defense Committee look ipetent in the public eye, only exhaustedly running around to no avail?

    The cunning Merman Brothers Consortium yed their little trick, and the moment the small Sky Patrol Shipnded, they had already seeded halfway.

    "I''m Executive Manager Hanna. Wee to the 911 Aircrew Base!"

    The female executive manager stepped forward, extending her hand to the leader of the investigation team.

    "Hanna Gagel? A C-rank Wind-type Ability User!"

    The other party had no intention of shaking hands in a friendly manner, instead sizing up Hanna Gagel from head to toe.

    A series of light crackles filled the air, as if flows of air containing immense power slowly pressed forward.

    "Yes, it''s me!"

    The executive manager''s smile gradually became stiff.

    The air between the two froze in an instant, as heavy as a ten-thousand-pound boulder.

    With a muffled explosion-like boom, the ground slightly dipped by an inch.

    Many people couldn''t help stepping back a few steps involuntarily, their expressions serious, clearly sensing the subtlepetition between the two Wind-type Ability Users.

    This was not just a probe, but also a disy of intimidation.

    Hiss!~

    Standing beside Manager Hanna, a chill ran across Chen Fei''s face, from his chin to the corner of his mouth, across his cheek, and over his eye, a slender cut appeared as if sliced by a sharp de, yet no trace of blood was seen.

    He immediately felt a persistent burning pain, but in the very next second, the cut slowly closed and disappeared, and the pain vanished as if it had never existed.

    Chen Fei touched his own face, naturally feeling nothing at all, somewhat doubting himself. Was it an illusion?

    This gesture made him look somewhat foolish, in a dazed sort of way.

    If he had remained motionless, showing no reaction, he might have seemed a bit more stoic and unyielding.

    Just a moment of hesitation gave the opposite first impression to the observer.

    The representative of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s investigative team, who waspeting with Hanna Gagel, noticed the anomaly on Chen Fei''s face and slowly retracted his oppressive force. This silly young man must be the other supernatural power user from the 911 Aircrew Base, the Metal Ability User, Chen Fei.

    The executive manager tactfully followed suit in calming her Special Ability.

    The contest between C-Rank ability users would definitely not be decided in a moment, and the earlier exchange was nothing more than an unfriendly greeting.

    "I am Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team."

    Finally, the other party gave the executive manager the courtesy and respect she deserved.

    If the person facing him had been an ordinary individual, they would have likely been crushed by the irresistible air pressure, sted into a bloody mess like an exploded balloon, with no chance of survival!

    Just as Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei thought the man''s attitude might improve slightly, they saw the investigation team leader''s face be stern as he said without a doubt, "From this moment on, everyone at the Aircrew Base must stay where they are and not move around at will."

    "May I ask, why is this?"

    Hanna Gagel was taken aback. The other party was not polite at all, demanding control over everyone on the spot.

    The temporary investigation team leader Franco authoritatively stated, "This isn''t a discussion with you, it is an order, an order from the Committee!"

    Nearly all Private Military Contractors have to act ording to the whims of the Global United Defense Committee. Thetter possesses not only the representative power of Sovereign Level, but they are also the major financiers for the former.

    If it weren''t for the annual contract fees and performance bonuses, many of those with Aircrew Bases would be left destitute.

    "No one present is allowed to move!"

    A voice shouted from behind Franco, scattering a handful of dust, as a Magic Wand appeared in his hand. He began to chant loudly.

    The onerge and three small Demon Crystals embedded in the head of the wand emitted a deep blue light, and countless tiny droplets emerged from the air, mixing with the dust and taking on color.

    A green Mist rapidly expanded in size, quickly enveloping an area over a dozen meters in diameter, swallowing up the personnel from the 911 Aircrew Base on the spot, while deftly avoiding the members of the investigation team.

    Anyone touched by the green Mist would immediately lose consciousness and copse on the spot.

    The Mist was still expanding rapidly, in no time covering the entire tarmac and rolling towards the two hangars.

    "''Slumber Mist''?! Everyone from 911 is here; no one would try to escape. Isn''t this unnecessary?"

    Hanna Gagel''s face looked very uneasy as she watched the Mage activate the war spell from Cangqiong Star, spreading it to every corner of the Aircrew Base. As long as the spiritual power and Magic Element were sufficient, the Mist would expand endlessly.

    If everyone from the 911 Aircrew Base were incapacitated, the consequences would be unthinkable should the Merman Brothers Consortium take advantage of the situation.

    "Shut up! It is absolutely necessary. Begin drawing blood now!"

    The temporary investigation team leader Franco waved his hand impatiently, not bothering to exin further.

    -

 Chapter 119: Section 119 - Covert Conflict

    The existence and responsibilities of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee were actually meant to clean up the mess left by the great war of the Three Realms, which took ce thirty years ago.

    At the time, eager to stabilize the adverse situation, the Blue Star Civilization overused nuclear and space-based weapons. Although it did not trigger a nuclear winter apocalypse, it still caused irreparable severe consequences to the''s surface and its natural ecological environment.

    The full-scale invasion of the Third Era Civilization is still fresh in the memory of the sovereign nations of today. The catastrophe seems to have happened just yesterday, and no one wants to go through it again. Therefore, the natural extinction of the Neanderthal tribe''s most aggressive elite warriors was the best oue.

    The discontinuation of the Secret Technique tradition does have its reasons within the Neanderthals themselves, but the shadow of maniption by the Blue Star Civilization''s people is also unavoidably behind it.

    The sudden emergence of an unexpected "variable" has probably made the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee the first to need to worry.

    Another mage scattered arge cloud of dust while chanting incantations and created an even denser "Slumber Mist," which recklessly expanded within the entire Aircrew Base.

    The billowing green mist swept over, and the employees of 911 Aircrew Base had no means to avoid it; they didn''t even have time to find gas masks before falling unconscious on the spot.

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, the maintenance crew, the control tower, the security team, the cafeteria... Two mages worked together, paralyzing the entire Aircrew Base with their spells, leaving everyone sprawled at their posts without any resistance from beginning to end.

    In fact, the war spell "Slumber Mist" takes effect as soon as it is contacted, and it will work unlesspletely physically isted; no kind of filtration system is effective against it.

    After the mist had dissipated, more than forty ordinary personnel from the temporary investigation team immediately sprang into action, taking out small blood collection needles and one by one, collecting blood samples.

    Within the temporary investigation team, thergest number of supernatural power users was split into groups led by four D-level ability users, who were wandering around the base as if looking for something.

    The imposing presence of the onrush temporary investigation team left Hanna Gagel gnashing her teeth in anger, but she could only watch the other side carry on unabated. The green mist enveloped her, yet it suddenly veered off, wrapping around Chen Fei instead.

    The female executive manager did not hesitate to activate her Wind-type Psionic Ability, trying to disperse the green mist around Chen Fei.

    But as soon as she made a move, her Wind-type Psionic Ability immediately became bogged down, suppressed, and two different sources of Wind-type Psionic Ability were canceling each other out. The green mist was not disturbed at all.

    Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, made his move again, speaking indifferently, "Manager Hanna, please do not interfere with our investigation."

    The mist was still rapidly approaching, and Chen Fei hurriedly tried to evade, but he was already tightly surrounded by the "Slumber Mist" and could not escape. He inevitably became contaminated with a lot, even identally inhaling a breath of it.

    Seeing Chen Fei''s head-shaking, struggling demeanor, Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, had a scornful cold smile on his lips, saying, "Don''t resist, resistance is futile, just lie down and rest!"

    Even supernatural power users, if caught off guard by this spell, are likely to be affected.

    Chen Fei kept shaking his head, trying to shake off the sudden dizziness that had struck him.

    Him lying down would certainly be more convenient, but it would put Manager Hanna in a difficult position, fighting alone. If both of them stayed awake, at least they might prevent the others from getting their waypletely.

    Besides, he still owed 911 Aircrew Base money, and now the debt had been transferred here, with the female executive manager being the creditor.

    Running away might preserve his own safety, but it would certainly leave a ck mark on his personal credit record, with serious consequences.

    "Magic resistance!"

    The young man by Hanna Gagel''s side did not fall immediately, causing a slight surprise among the members of the temporary investigation team.

    The spell "Slumber Mist" usually knocks out its targets right away, and it''s rare to find someone who can resist, especially someone who could hold out for so long¡ªhe was an unusual exception.

    Ten fingers being connected to the heart, Chen Fei bit down fiercely on each of his fingertips, the immediate pain dispelling the foggy sensation. He bared his teeth and sneered coldly at those who were enjoying the spectacle.

    "This thing doesn''t work on me!"

    He, like Manager Hanna, had no fondness for the temporary investigation team, especially since it was clear that they had ulterior motives for making a big deal out of a small matter.

    This kind of condescension and scorn that seemed toe from a perceived height was indeed repellent, making one wonder where such a sense of superiority came from.

    The so-called Neanderthal Elite Warriors simply did not exist, only the fools used by the Merman Brothers Consortium.

    "To actually be immune to ''Slumber Mist,'' what Superpower Level are you?"

    Franco, the head of the temporary investigation team, finally gave Chen Fei a second nce, showing a hint of interest.

    He had seen Metal Ability Users before, but never one who could resist the War Spell "Slumber Mist." It was his first encounter with what had previously only been a theoretical possibility.

    Superpower Levels range from the lowest G to the highest S. Awakening to one''s abilities is a done deal; whatever level you start at is what you remain. You cannot easily advance further. The strength of an ability can''t be determined solely by level, rather, it must be assessed considering factors such as spirit power, control power, application experience, and resistance, among others.

    "Super!"

    Chen Fei''s brain worked well. Naturally, he understood that his Superpower Level was another card up his sleeve, so why would he foolishly reveal it to others?

    Besides, he had never even attended the official Superpower training courses; how could he possibly know?

    Looking at Manager Hanna, Chen continued, "Mr. Franco, how much longer will your investigation take? Aircrew Base 911 is currently in the midst of corporate warfare. If we can''t wake up on time, it''s going to have a rather detrimental impact on our security. Since you want to collect blood samples, why go through all this rigmarole?"

    Caught in the situation, Executive Manager Hanna Gagel was anxious and therefore chaotic. Even though she was aware that these people had ulterior motives, she could not speak rashly. Otherwise, once she lost room for maneuver, it would only make it easier to end up in a passive position.

    As a newly signed official employee, Chen Fei could speak without taboos, letting the opponent''s little tricks fly, while he simply retaliated with a heavy "ck Tiger Heart Extraction," bringing the issue to light and applying direct pressure. He did not believe they could continue to feign ignorance and y dumb.

    What''s a little shrimp to fear? Just spray them directly.

    If these investigators had any shred of decency, they wouldn''t continue to y dead in silence.

    For all Chen knew, as he had guessed, the four hostile aircrew bases surrounding Aircrew Base 911 might already have a stream ofbat aircraft ascending into the sky, swooping towards this location.

    If, by that time, the victims had been beaten to death, with the citizens silent and officials unresponsive, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would easily be able to extricate themselves and stand aside, voicing what''s right and wrong.

    A member of the temporary investigation team immediately reprimanded loudly, "Boy, watch your attitude."

    However, Franco did not take Chen Fei seriously at all and said in a rxed manner, "Does the investigation team need your instruction on how to do its job?

    I''ll just exin one thing. If there are Neanderthals hiding among you, using ''Slumber Mist'' can avoid unnecessary casualties. This is the best approach."

    If one didn''t know the internal situation, it was actually possible to be fooled.

    However, it seemed off to need to put everyone to sleep just to collect blood samples.

    "I want to file a protest with the Committee. I suspect you are intentionally interfering with the fairness and justice of the corporate warfare."

    With a nudge from Chen Fei, the so-far helpless Executive Manager Hanna Gagel immediately seized the key point.

    The temporary investigation team, unting the banner of the Global United Defense Committee, acted wantonly. Why couldn''t she also use this big tiger skin to fight for Aircrew Base 911''s legitimate rights?

    "The Merman Brothers Consortium isunching an attack on us¡ªthe assault is imminent. Can you guarantee they won''t act?"

    Since it was all conjecture without cost, Chen Fei directly escted the situation, pushing the temporary investigation team into a corner, daring them to counter.

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel''s eyes lit up, as she finally found her breakthrough, following up with, "If you cannot make such a guarantee, then I have reason to suspect you are using excessive measures to secretly assist the Merman Brothers Consortium, creating opportunities for their attack."

    The temporary investigation team did not fully represent the Committee. Moreover, at this critical juncture, what was there to fear about offending someone? The situation, as bad as it was, could hardly get worse.

    -

 Chapter 120: Section 120 - On the Brink

    "You..."

    The interim investigation team leader, who had been keeping a cold face throughout, finally erupted in anger.

    This is a matter of principle!!!

    Even if the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee is reluctant, it has to forcefully deal with it¡ªthere''s nowhere to hide.

    As an arbiter, when dealing with military contractors, you can act high and mighty, squinting one eye and closing the other toward certain things, but in some situations, you must be impartial, and that''s unquestionable. Taking matters into your hands is even more wrong.

    Take, for example, the corporate warfare between military contractors.

    Both sides are armed to the teeth, murderous intent arising naturally; naively demanding peace talks to resolve disputes is unrealistic. Sooner orter, a massive fight will break out. Rather than that, it''s better to grant a one-on-one opportunity to bring all contradictions to light, to bash each other''s brains out in full public view.

    Even if it results in a bloody mess, at least it remains within a manageable scope. Otherwise, conflicts between military contractors could escte into a global free-for-all¡ªa possibility not beyond imagination.

    If that happens, what''s the point of the existence of the Global United Defense Committee?

    It''s better to have a neat and decisive battle. The winner takes all, the loser concedes. After weighing each other''s strength, tears shed, blood spilt, the disputes naturally subside. It prevents minor issues from causing major losses and forgetting one''s ce. It''s actually a good thing.

    In wars, bloodshed and death are inevitable, but in the history of Blue Star civilization, it''s hardly worth mentioning.

    After all, the entire history of human civilization is essentially a bloody chronicle of wars, not peace. Days without war are few and far between; conflict is part of everyday life. Even blood siblings fight till they bleed; what more for strangers who cannot stand each other.

    What are you chirping about? ... I''ll hit you, so what!

    "We will not make such a guarantee. Corporate warfare is your own affair; the Global United Defense Committee will not interfere."

    Franco finally began to take seriously the one-eyed woman in front of him, as well as the young man beside her who seemed to be a simpleton.

    This hot potato must be tossed aside, even if it means ying dirty.

    Most people don''t dare to breathe too loudly in front of the Global United Defense Committee, but this man and woman not only disregard themittee''s authority and the pressure from these ability users but have the audacity to try to use the corporate warfare to pressure the investigation team.

    Are they not afraid that the investigation team, in a fit of anger, could obliterate the entire Aircrew Base?

    Behind the Global United Defense Committee are several Sovereign Level states, all of them powerful nations without exception.

    A small private contractor is simply like an ant, easily crushed; a mere sneeze could blow them away.

    "Your current actions are aiding our enemies by using the investigation as a pretext to paralyze the defense capabilities of the 911 Aircrew Base. Chen Fei, record a video and publicize it."

    Hanna Gagel seized this opportunity firmly, her words carrying an air of righteous indignation.

    Chen Fei had reminded her, at this critical juncture, that any concession would plunge the 911 Aircrew Base into an abyss from which there was no return.

    The use of the war spell "Slumber Mist" to knock everyone out, while indeed, as the investigation team imed, prioritized safety and prevented any Neanderthal tribe infiltrators from erupting into violence or attempting escape, was not the only option.

    There were clearly other methods avable, but the investigation team acted without warning, cing the 911 Aircrew Base in the most dangerous situation, then irresponsibly left without looking back, feigning innocence. This was utterly condemnable.

    "Understood!"

    Chen Fei immediately took out his phone and swiftly opened the camera app, aiming it at the female executive manager and the interim investigation team leader, Franco.

    "I am Hanna Gagel, the executive manager of 911 Aircrew Base. I suspect the interim investigation team..."

    "Shut up!"

    In the camera''s field of view, just as Hanna Gagel was about to quickly rify the situation, she was abruptly interrupted by Franco''s explosive shout.

    The shout imbued with special ability was like a thunderp, deafening those nearby.

    If Chen Fei''s phone wasn''t a military-grade device with high protection features, it might have been damaged on the spot by the shout.

    "You shut up!"

    The female executive manager roared back even louder.

    Damn it, who gave you the face, stop being shameless!

    The other party''s tant attempt to damage Chen Fei''s phone had caused Hanna Gagel to finally lose control of her emotions and explode on the spot.

    "You are challenging the Global United Defense Committee!"

    Theplexion of the interim investigation team leader Franco turned ashen, his face seemed pped by the other''s arrogant disregard for his authority.

    Another C-ss ability user approached from nearby, along with two mages who were spreading "Slumber Mist" everywhere.

    The four War Professionals revealed their weapons: a longsword, a battle axe, a cross spear, and a war knife.

    Most War Professionals from Cangqiong Star prefer swords¡ªlong swords, daggers, broadswords, rapiers, stiletto swords... Hence, the four were most likely native Blue Star War Professionals. Thirty years was enough for the magic and Battle Qi from the Otherworld to take root and burgeon on Blue Star.

    Chen Fei extended his hand.

    Physical Evolution Database (102), Categories: Cold Weapons (7), Tools (95)/ Manage...

    "System, tool - crowbar!"

    System: Ding! Cold weapon "crowbar" evolution time 0/5 seconds!

    "Do you dare to say that it was the Global United Defense Committee who ordered you to use ''Slumber Mist'' for the investigation?"

    Hanna Gagel''s voice was stern, her hands poised together, a wind ball the size of a pigeon''s egg quickly took shape and began to growrger andrger.

    The atmosphere between the two sides instantly became as tense as drawn swords and ready bows, with conflict ready to erupt at any moment.

    ...2, 1!

    A white steel crowbar, over three feet long and wholly silver-white, appeared in Chen Fei''s hand.

    After being packed up and brought back to the 911 Aircrew Base while unconscious, Chen Fei used his spare time to add some prime bodies to the system''s Physical Evolution Database, absorbing some metal products and modeling them in the database so they could be re-evolved when needed.

    The evolution time for the "Blood Spike" left by the Neanderthal tribe elder Barut was 120 seconds, while simpler prime bodies didn''t require as much time.

    For example, a crowbar made of white steel material only needed 5 seconds, and the tactical dagger needed even less time, two seconds to construct the de and an additional second to add the handle, totaling only three seconds.

    Although the evolution time was two seconds longer, the crowbar offered a better cost-performance ratio¡ªit could block, smash, and pry, with a thickness and weight that was quite handy.

    Seeing the young man beside Hanna Gagel holding a cellphone in one hand and gripping the crowbar in the other, ready to fight at any disagreement, the temporary investigation team''s leader Franco''s face turned grim as he said, "Think carefully; you are making an enemy of the Joint Defense Committee here."

    After all, he was still very wary of the cellphone in Chen''s hand that was recording a video.

    Due to the prevalence of cloud technology, many electronic devices are essentially terminals, so don''t think you can destroy the evidence by smashing that cell phone as the actual video files aren''t stored in the phone at all, and have long been uploaded to thework cloud.

    Just switch to a new phone and log back in with themon personal ount; nothing will be lost, including data, documents, and even personal setting preferences.

    Therefore, once the live video is released, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee will inevitably face immense pressure from various sovereign nations and the public.

    To transfer the pressure, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would certainly discard the temporary investigation team as pawns; these people would likely be out of luck.

    "Young man, let''s talk nicely; how about this, I offer you a job opportunity. Come to my side, and with your Metal Elemental Psychic Power, you can definitely get a good position," Franco proposed, shifting strategies as he shamelessly tried to poach right in front of the female executive manager of the 911 Aircrew Base.

    "How much in Star Yuan per month?" Chen Fei''s eyes narrowed slightly.

    From a distance, the chirping sounds of "tweet, tweet..." were heard as three people raced away in a state of dishevelment and embarrassment.

    Franco, the leader of the temporary investigation team, tentatively asked, "Uh, 50,000 Star Yuan? What do you think?"

    A young recent college graduate would consider it quite generous to earn 20,000 Star Yuan a month, let alone an amount more than double that at 50,000 Star Yuan.

    "Fuck your mother!!!" Chen Fei''s pupils suddenly changed color in the next second, and a violent and dangerous aura explosively spread out.

    "Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes 1 Energy Point, Duration 15 seconds, Cooldown 15 seconds)"

    Energy Points -1

    Energy Points: 195/5000

    Even Hanna Gagel, the executive manager standing beside him, couldn''t help but have her hair stand on end, as if she felt a mortal threat.

    "You..."

    Franco''s eyes widened just then.

    The white steel crowbar flew whistling closely past the tip of his nose with a furious spin. Chapter Find:

    Fuck!

    Couldn''t you have expressed dissatisfaction with the price without resorting to violence right away?

    Franco had no doubt that if the crowbar had struck his head, it would have shattered his skull and sttered his brains.

    "Ah!~"

    Fifty meters away, a dreadful wail erupted.

    A member of the temporary investigation team writhed on the ground, holding his shin as a small bird with ck feathers kept pecking relentlessly at his face, leaving visible red marks.

    The crowbar that flew over had struck his leg¡ªgiven the unnatural twist of his shin, it was likely broken on impact.

    The other two continued to run helter-skelter without looking back, shouting as they went, "Help! Help!"

    It was a disgrace that they, E-grade Ability Users, were fleeing in such a pathetic state from a nondescript Magical Beast Sparrow.

    "Is that a Pure Light Sparrow?"

    Franco looked in the direction of the sound, his hand closing on thin air, ready to unleash his Special Ability to take down that low-level Magical Beast Sparrow directly.

    "I''d like to see who dares make a move."

    Several whistling sounds cut through the air as if invisible des were slicing it, leaving several long marks on the ground¡ªthis was Hanna Gagel''s demonstration and warning.

    The wind ball between her hands had grown to the size of a football.

    -

 Chapter 121: Section 121 - Catch the Thief and Seize the Stolen Goods

    Xiao Jiu relentlessly pecked at the guy who kept crying out in pain on the ground.

    Of course,pared to the pain of a broken leg, having your face pecked into a blooming peach was hardly an issue.

    Moreover,pared to the ferocity of Chen Fei''s father, the little bird''s attack power could be practically ignored. The red marks it left on the opponent''s face would fade in two or three days at most.

    Thebat power of a low-rank Light-element Magical Beast was already weak, let alone a Pure Light Sparrow that barely made the rank. A "Band-Aid" could hardly count asbat power.

    Even if it was lucky to obtain a Third Rank Light Beast Crystal Core, its abilities couldn''t be very formidable all at once due to its bloodline and species limitations.

    The scale armor on the surface of the skin was faintly visible, from the arms to the palms and then to the fingers, monstrously gruesome.

    Chen Fei forcefully suppressed the murderous intent boiling within him and roared, "You are not wee here, get out, all of you!"

    Dare to touch my bird, I''ll break your legs!

    "You are courting death!"

    Seeing a member of the investigative team injured, Franco, the person in charge, no longer hesitated and opened his five fingers to grab at Chen Fei, or more urately, pushed something invisible towards him.

    Chen Fei waved his hand, and a sound like fabric being ripped echoed.

    A sudden gust of wind swept up countless sand and stones, and the unbound high-pressure gas exploded like a small-scale burst.

    Franco staggered back several meters, lowering his head to check, then raising it with a look of shock.

    Across his chest, from the left shoulder to the right waist, were three gashes¡ªtwo long and one short¡ªas if savagely scratched by a monster.

    Not just fabric, even steel could be shredded apart.

    This sight turned the investigative team leader''s face deathly pale.

    If it had been a centimeter or two deeper, it would have been enough to rip open his chest and abdomen.

    "How audacious!"

    Following an explosive shout, a glimmering longsword from the side came shing down toward Chen Fei''s neck.

    A War Professional couldn''t wait tounch an attack.

    Crack!

    The longsword was caught squarely an inch away from Chen Fei''s neck.

    Sparks flew between the Sharp Edge and the grotesque ws.

    "You... are courting death!"

    Chen Fei coldly nced at him.

    The cold ruthlessness of his golden pupils pierced straight into the heart of the War Professional.

    With a forceful clench of the monstrous w, a crisp cracking sound apanied by trembling reverberations ensued, and the five-foot-wide longsword was forcibly snapped into two pieces, with the remaining half nearly slipping from the War Professional''s grip.

    System: Ding! Detected 6.57 kilograms of tungsten carbide-based hard alloy. Would you like to absorb: Yes/No?

    Absorb!

    System: Ding! Absorbed 6.57 kilograms of tungsten carbide-based hard alloy,position: tungsten 75%, titanium 11%, cobalt 5%, molybdenum 3%¡­

    The half of the short sword disappeared in the ws in an instant, and then another merciless w struck down.

    "Be careful!"

    With a loud ng, Chen Fei''s w was blocked by a long-handled battle axe, saving the War Professional who had lost half of his broadsword from certain doom.

    If the w had caught him solidly, he would have been torn apart, far worse than being quartered by horses.

    The heavy axe de trembled slightly, the edge squeaking as sparks flew, deeply scratched by the ws, and the long axe handle slightly bent. The sight chilled the spine of the axe-wielding War Professional. He erupted with all his might, slightly revealing Light mes ascending around his body, yet he gained little upper hand.

    This Metal Ability Userpletely countered their cold weapons!

    System: Ding! Detected 47.32 kilograms of manganese steel. Would you like to absorb: Yes/No?

    Chen Fei smirked coldly.

    Absorb!

    System: Ding! Absorbed 47.32 kilograms of manganese steel,position: iron 80%, manganese 15%, nickel 3%, carbon 1.5%...

    The War Professional holding the long-handled battle axe immediately felt a tremendous pulling force transmitted to his hands and urgently pulled back.

    However, it was still a step toote. Caught off guard, he couldn''t hold on, and watched his weapon disappear into that grotesque w.

    The War Professional, stripped of his long-handled battle axe, involuntarily gasped. They said supernatural power users had bizarre abilities, but the opponent''s ability to forcibly "confiscate" weapons was simply too bullying.

    The other two War Professionals looked at Chen Fei''s ws, then at the cross spear and War Knife in their own hands and couldn''t help but swallow, hesitating in their steps, seemingly cowering!

    Without their weapons, theirbat power had dropped by at least thirty percent. Were they to rely solely on bare fists and Battle Qi?

    But the opponent''s ws were even more domineering than cold weapons!

    Chen Fei coldly swept them with his gaze and strode towards the guy still crying on the ground.

    Behind him, the air continuously exploded with booming sounds.

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel had already engaged with the temporary investigative team leader Franco, with the two C-rank Wind-type Psionic Users struggling to gain the upper hand for the moment.

    The other C-rank supernatural power user in the investigative team didn''t rashly intervene, instead he watched anxiously as the two people confronted each other, with neither the east wind overwhelming the west, nor the west wind the east, resulting in a deadlock.

    If he were to interfere, it likely would have turned into a fight to the death, as Hanna Gagel would definitely kill one without hesitation, and only a fool would believe that the other party would show restraint and mercy.

    Since this is the line of work they were in, there were no such things as kind men or pious women, life and death were taken lightly, disputes were settled by fighting.

    Without concrete evidence, the temporary investigative team sent by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee engaging in a fight with the party under investigation would be a joke, sessful in nothing and detrimental in everything if they failed to capture proof.

    Luckily, Hanna Gagel and Franco happened to control their special abilities within a radius of about three meters, which is the effective control radius for C-ss supernatural power users, preventing the fight from escting further.

    If they moved, the destructive power would certainly increase.

    At that time, the 911 Aircrew Base would suffer damage, but don''t forget there was also a sky patrol ship and two crystal jets nearby. Destroying the entire 911 would not be enough to cover the losses from these three.

    "Jiu!~~"

    Seeing his fathering, Xiao Jiu immediately left the unfortunate man on the ground, fluttered its wings, flew over, saw his father''s golden eyes, hesitated for a moment, but then confidentlynded on his shoulder, affectionately pecking at his earlobe.

    "Xiao Jiu, good, what did this guy do?" Chapter Find:

    Chen Fei wanted to pet his own little bird, but the ws on his hands hadn''t disappeared yet.

    The "Eyes of Tyranny" were still a few seconds away.

    "Jiu!"

    The little bird cocked its head, flew towards the man''s clothes, pecked at a bulging pocket, and one or two specks of light came out from beneath the fabric.

    The man with the broken leg was only concerned about his leg, not paying any attention to the little birdnding on him.

    Although the little bird couldn''t speak, Chen Fei was not foolish, quickly understanding what this meant.

    System: "Eyes of Tyranny" begin cooldown 1/15 seconds.

    He conveniently picked up a crowbar stuck in the ground with one hand, grabbed the other person''s neck with the other, and lifted him up directly.

    He targeted the man''s head with the crowbar, preparing to open a "can" right there to see what was inside this guy''s head, perhaps all shit?

    "Stop!"

    The C-rank Earth Element Ability User, Willy, seeing this, no longer paid attention to the female executive manager and the temporary investigative team leader.

    As he spoke, his ability activated simultaneously, the cement on the ground detached and covered his body, forming a gray-white armor, ensuring defense before anything else.

    After all, the impression left by the opponent''srge ws was profound; if it caught on his flesh, his mortal body would likely be no stronger than paper mache, not to mention that silver-white "cold weapon."

    In certain circumstances, a crowbar could indeed be considered a weapon.

    The sound of rolling, a crystal clear crystal rolled out of the broken-legged man''s pocket and fell to the ground.

    Its inherent dim glow was overshadowed by the sunlight; the lustrous crystal surface reflected dazzling light.

    "Ah!~"

    Willy''s voice immediately faltered.

    That was a Magical Beast Crystal Core, judging by the size and degree of crystallization, it was definitely not amonce item.

    Not only him, but also the other four War Professionals who were wary of Chen Fei''srge ws and dared not make any rash moves were equally stunned.

    Such arge Magical Beast Crystal Core, that should be of Earth Order level, right?

    The magical resources from Cangqiong Star, divided into Human Order Ninth Rank, Earth Order Sixth Rank, and Heavenly Order Third Rank, with Human Order resources primarily circting in the market. The higher the rank, the fewer the quantities. Once it reached Earth Order, it could no longer be essed by ordinary people.

    Heavenly Order resources, whether they be magic potions, Magical Beast Crystal Cores, or magic artifacts, appear once in several years. Each appearance causes a sensation on Blue Star and leads to fiercepetition among the major powers.

    There was no way around it, as they were scarce resources on Cangqiong Star, let alone on Blue Star, a world apart. Having the goods was already fortunate, their being priceless was the norm.

    Chen Fei also found the answer to why Xiao Jiu was relentlessly pursuing it.

    He threw the man on the ground, spat contemptuously.

    "Thief!"

    The Pure Light Sparrow immediately pounced on the Magical Beast Crystal Core, pecking incessantly, each peck releasing many specks of light, which, before they could disperse, drifted towards its body and momentarily caused a faint brightness on the ck feathers, then disappeared.

    Given the peculiar urrence with the Light-element Magical Beast, Pure Light Sparrow, this Magical Beast Crystal Core was likely a Light Element Crystal Core too.

    Caught red-handed at the scene, the man on the ground''s face flushed red, but he dared not make a sound.

    Deny?

    Would denying help?

    For an E-rank supernatural power user, even selling all his assets he might not gather such arge Crystal Core, money can''t buy it, and even if it''s avable, he wouldn''t be the one to get it, especially one of apletely different elemental attribute, or carrying such a valuable Magical Beast Crystal Core while outdoors.... Every exnation was unconvincing.

    The Earth Element Ability User, Willy, turned around and shouted loudly, "Stop, everyone stop, all of you stop!"

    Damn, such a huge embarrassment!

    Fucking hell, a member of the investigative team being greedy, stealing someone''s belongings!!

    And being caught in the act.

    How could there be such a disgraceful jerk mixed in with the investigative team.

    Willy wished he could p the man with the broken leg to death.

    -

 Chapter 122: Section 122 - The Enemy Comes

    With a feigned shot and amidst a loud air burst, Franco staggered backward, panting slightly.

    He was indeed a C-level supernatural power user, but so was his opponent!

    After exchanging more than ten moves, he hadn''t gained the slightest advantage.

    This one-eyed woman was tougher to deal with than he had imagined.

    However, at that moment, Franco''s attention was not on the female executive manager of the Aircrew Base; he turned his gaze and saw the Light Beast Crystal Core sparkling in the sunlight.

    Damn it!!!

    The temporary investigation team was here to trace the Neanderthal Elite Warriors, not to steal things.

    Wasn''t the sry level of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee enough?

    Did they really have to resort to thievery!

    And to think that they got caught red-handed, putting the investigative team in a passive position instantly.

    Consequently, the person in charge of the temporary investigation team and the other members all felt the burning shame, losing face.

    How humiliating!

    "Dinglinglingling¡­"

    Chen Fei''s phone rang; however, the phone tucked in his front pocket captured everything it needed to.

    It was a call from his younger sister at home. Family above all, he quickly stopped the video recording.

    "Hello, Little Sis, what''s up?"

    "Big Brother, what are you doing?"

    "Oh, I''m about to break someone''s legs!"

    Chen Fei held the phone in one hand and a White Steel crowbar in the other, raised high.

    "Xiao Meng, what is your brother doing?"

    The voice of their mother came through, having heard the youngest child calling her Second Brother and asking casually.

    "Bro is breaking someone''s legs!"

    Chen Meng ryed the message.

    "Oh, ask your Second Brother if he has time toe back for Cousin Meizhi''s wedding at our uncle''s ce."

    The mother''s voice came through again.

    "Second Brother, Mom asked me to ask you, our uncle''s daughter is having her wedding banquet, are youing back?"

    Little sister Chen Meng acted as the intermediary.

    "Which day is it?"

    Chen Fei swung the White Steel crowbar down heavily.

    "Ah!"

    The person who had stolen the Magical Beast Crystal Core let out a piercing scream.

    His arm broke!

    Who told him to move, causing the crowbar to strike off target.

    Little sister asked curiously, "The 29th of next month, huh? What''s that sound?"

    "Missed. The leg didn''t break, but the arm did. Gotta do it again. Hey, don''t move, just one more time, it''ll be quick, don''t move."

    Chen Fei, dissatisfied, stepped on the guy''s leg to keep him from moving this time.

    When a good kid gets tough, he''s utterly inhumane.

    He had never known he could be so brutal: chatting with his sister on the phone while nonchntly breaking someone else''s legs and asking the person to stay still.

    "No, no, don''t!"

    The "thief," having two limbs broken, was almost about to pee his pants.

    But the silver crowbar did not hesitate and came down cleanly.

    Crack! The clear sound of a bone being smashed could be heard.

    "All right! Learn your lesson, understand?"

    Chen Fei finally let the unfortunate kid go.

    He nned to break a leg but identally broke another limb as well. Why bother?

    With three limbs broken, the guy didn''t even catch what Chen Fei said, as he passed out, eyes rolling back, sparing himself the need for painkillers.

    Chen Fei finally turned his attention back to the phone and said thoughtfully, "The 29th of next month, yeah, I''ll remember. I''ll try! I''m quite busy right now, might not make it."

    "Second Brother, whether youe or not, give us a heads up in advance so Uncle can save a spot for you."

    Little sister Chen Meng finally finished handling the matter.

    "Got it, I''ll send you word a week in advance. Hanging up now!"

    Chen Fei ended the call and restarted the video recording function.

    Leisurely, he looked at the increasingly pale-faced temporary investigation team leader Franco.

    Jesus!

    The two supernatural power investigators who had run back with him were all pale with fear.

    Not long ago, they had discovered a nest and a Magical Beast Crystal Core inside a tin shack. Not only was it impressivelyrge, but it was also of exceptional purity.

    The three had never seen such arge, high-quality Magical Beast Crystal Core just lying unguarded in a nest.

    They thought, "Heaven gives but doesn''t demand, he who takes without entitlement will suffer the consequences."

    One of them couldn''t hold back and reached out a greedy hand toward the nest.

    He forgot the saying.

    Greed is a devil!

    Eventually, he gained nothing but ended up with a broken arm and two broken legs.

    The two lucky investigators who escaped unscathed couldn''t help but suspect that this might have been the Aircrew Base "fishing" for culprits, clearly a trap waiting for someone to fall into.

    -

    "Mom, Second Brother said he''d confirm whether he''sing one week in advance."

    Having just ended the call with Second Brother Chen Fei, Chen Meng hurriedly reported back to their mother.

    "Why does it sound like a ughterhouse at your brother''s ce? It''s so noisy. Wasn''t he supposed to be just a mechanic who specifically repairs nes? Why is he fixing people now?"

    The youngest, Chen Meng, had the speakerphone on during the call, letting their mother, Yu Xiaoyi, listen in too. Besides Second Brother''s voice, there were also some squealing noises mixed in.

    "Second Brother just broke someone''s leg!"

    Chen Meng had just finished speaking when she finally realized something was off.

    "Your Second Brother broke someone''s leg?"

    Mother Yu Xiaoyi also finally caught on.

    "It... it seems so!"

    The voice of the family''s youngest suddenly became especially weak, as Second Brother had changed; he used not to even fight, but now he could break someone''s legs.

    The mother and daughter looked at each other, seeming to struggle with the fact that this was not a joke but a reality.

    -

    The members of the investigation team scattered across the Aircrew Base gradually returned to the tarmac.

    "Slumber Mist" had almost taken down everyone, making the blood collection work exceptionally smooth.

    The forty-plus regr people in the temporary investigation group, all technicians, quicklypiled the test results.

    "Leader Franco, we''re just missing two samples. We''ve investigated all the others,"

    No need to search for evidence or interrogate anyone; blood test results were avable instantly. Just byparing the DNA, it could automatically identify if there were any Neanderthals hiding within the Aircrew Base.

    So far, out of over two hundred samples, all were descendants of Homo sapiens. There was not even anyone with a fragment of gic material from a brief encounter with the Neanderthal tribe in their ancestry, let alone any Neanderthal Elite Warriors.

    "Who''s left?"

    Franco frowned.

    This investigation mission was particrly unsessful. The two groups had even started fighting, and there weremittee members caught stealing, caught red-handed. Such a mess.

    "There''s still..."

    The technician handing over the investigative statistics looked toward the female executive manager, Hanna Gagel, and the man carrying a silver-white crowbar, looking unruly, Chen Fei.

    It goes without saying, these two were left.

    "Forget it, we''re pulling out!"

    Franco snorted out these words through his nostrils and turned to leave.

    He didn''t want to stay a moment longer in this Aircrew Base; it was both embarrassing and infuriating.

    "Aren''t we testing them?"

    The apanying technician watched the back of the temporary investigation group leader and then looked at the two at the Aircrew Base.

    Just two samples short, this investigation report wouldn''t be perfect!

    "No, we''re not testing them!"

    Franco didn''t turn his head back.

    Two people with supernatural powers, what''s there to check!

    The bloodline of the Neanderthal tribe only supported Secret Technique, with no special abilities to awaken; there had never been a supernatural power user among them, not even among the mixed-bloods.

    The others headed towards the Sky Patrol Ship. Flustered, they boarded it.

    Even the investigator who had stolen the Light Beast Crystal Core was carried up.

    Inside the Aircrew Base, they didn''t manage to get the right answer, not even a close one; they were doomed to have made the trip in vain.

    "Rookie, quickly douse everyone with cold water to wake them up."

    Female executive manager Hanna Gagel finally shifted her focus away from the temporary investigation group.

    The two Mages hadn''t lifted the effect of the "Slumber Mist" spell, so if they wanted to wake people up, they had to use other means. Fortunately, cold water did the trick instantly.

    "Got it!"

    Chen Fei sprinted off.

    "Chirp! Chirp!"

    Little Bird flew after her daddy from behind.

    Ssh!~

    A basin of cold water woke up Chief Mechanic Xiao Ming.

    "Uh, what''s going on?"

    The mountain-like man turned over with a flop, wiping his face with water still dripping.

    He was somewhat confused and didn''t understand what was happening.

    "Boss! Quickly wake up everyone else."

    Chen Fei, without time to exin more, handed over a paper cup.

    After filling another cup with water and sshing it all over a senior mechanic, Xiao Jixiu got it instantly. Following the example, he poured water and pped another awake.

    One woke two, two woke four, and the number of conscious workers soared exponentially.

    By the time it got to "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, a cup of water, a p to each cheek, plus a kick, had them yelping and bouncing up instantly, with excellent results.

    The employees at various posts, with bruised faces, started to resume normal work as the ground-based radar issued a warning for the first time.

    "Enemy aircraft iing!"

    "I knew it!"

    The woman in the control tower mmed her fist onto the table.

    The temporary investigation unit''s Sky Patrol Ship and two Crystal Jets had already left quietly without saying goodbye, leaving her in an unfavorable situation.

    Merman Brothers Consortium making a move using others.

    The employee responsible for the radar was pale and reported with a trembling voice: "Enemies areing from all directions, northeast, southwest, each with no fewer than 20 targets. We''re surrounded."

    "Give the order, ''Genuine Fragrance'' Combat Flight Squadron take off,unch all anti-air missiles first!"

    Female executive Hanna Gagel clenched her teeth and said, "Today, let''s go big or go home!"

    In every corner of the 911 Aircrew Base, red lights shed and rms red, activating an unprecedented First-Level Combat Readiness.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron didn''t disappoint the female executive manager; within two minutes of themand being issued, Squadron Leader Chekhov, piloting the MiG-28 Jet Fighter, was the first to take off.

    -

 Chapter 123: Section 123 - The Big Adventure

    The Merman Brothers United Consortium finally showcased its industry rank as the eighth juggernaut.

    For Aircrew Base 911, the pressure was immense.

    Enemies on all sides, a massive force bearing down, overwhelmingly outnumbered... but still they had to fight!

    Even in this scenario, Aircrew Base 911 saw no deserters, for all the cowards had already perished, recently felled by an anti-air missile.

    Whether it was Manager Hanna, Rookie Chen Fei, Big Brother Xiao the chief mechanic, or Chekhov Big Bear, they all agreed that this was refreshingly straightforward, as every department within the base united like never before.

    Only the damned had died, and those who should not have died also perished.

    One after another, fully loaded A-39B "Big Mouth Monsters" turboprop attack aircraft followed by MiG-28 jet fighters took to the sky in session.

    All thanks to Chen Fei and his team of veterans who discovered the "wool" of Aircrew Base 909, after a fierce plundering session, the maintenance team assembled several more "Big Mouth Monsters," surpassing even the number of pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    One MiG-28 and fifteen "Big Mouth Monsters" summed up the total aerialbat power that Aircrew Base 911 could muster, but against the approaching swarm of nearly a hundred enemy aircraft, the effectiveness of tactics was virtually negligible.

    Faced with the almost hopeless disparity in numbers, the pilots of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron decisivelymitted themselves to the struggle, excluding Squadron Leader Chekhov, who flew a MiG-28 on his own; all other pilots did the same, abandoning the two-person operation mode of the "Big Mouth Monsters," to ensure as many fighters as possible were airborne to maximize firepower inbat.

    Even the four pilots of two Z-9 armed helicopters temporarily switched to flying the "Big Mouth Monsters."

    With the rtively low difficulty of flying turboprop aircraft, the transition came without any pressure.

    Launching this desperate attack being outnumbered, none thought of a safe return; an extra hand meant extrabat power, and with no need for the normal "scavenging" service, there was no use for armed helicopters.

    The sixteen fighters that took off one after another didn''t disperse, nor care for formation, with jet fighters in the lead and turboprops lined up behind, they directly faced the enemy squadron approaching from the east.

    The direction was chosen arbitrarily, without any particr reason.

    In fact, regardless of which direction''s enemies they chose to engage first, the oue would have made no difference.

    While the enemy hadn''tpletely closed off their surrounding, it was better to go for injuring one finger rather than ten; by eliminating the invaders from one direction first, there might be a hope of survival in the subsequent battle.

    "Damn, this time we''re really gonna die, huh!"

    Yamada Takebu, who had nearly a hundred hours of turboprop flight experience, wasn''t unfamiliar with the cockpit of A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" and while watching the enemy identification signals transmitted from the ground-based radar through the battlefield data link, seeing as they were rapidly closing in, he couldn''t help but remark.

    Abiko Fushi, now the wingman pilot who once co-piloted a Z-9 armed helicopter seriously said, "Hey, Yamada, see you in the underworld!"

    Seemingly affected by his old partner''s mood, Yamada Takebu spoke solemnly, "To the underworld, Abiko!"

    Squadron Deputy Leader Irinei Rusios, known as "Devil Pepper," said in a resentful tone over thems channel, "I am still a virgin, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov, you''re responsible."

    God damn responsible, just because you''re a virgin, you me me?

    Big Bear didn''t dare to utter a word, figuring it was better to avoid trouble.

    If only the girl had at least a C cup, he would be all in, but s with an A... well, that''s a different story...

    "Chekhov, say something for God''s sake! Don''t y dead!"

    The short-haired girl, Little Chili, living up to her fiery South American reputation, was instantly inmed.

    Kid Cheng Fei, with cunning in his eyes, said slyly, "Deputy Leader, actually Chekhov really loves you, you''re the only one for him; he''s just ying hard to get, he''s quite sincere at heart."

    (*£þ(¥¨)£þ¨p): I''m not, I didn''t, don''t talk nonsense!

    "Really!"

    Everyone loves pleasing words, and Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios was no exception, instantly delighted by the ttery.

    "Rookie, who the hell is using the fire control radar to paint me!!! Who?"

    Chekhov Big Bear was about to refute when the cockpit suddenly red with the unanticipated warning sound of being locked on¡ªthe infuriating fire control radar signal was even from behind.

    Goddamit, which dumb teammate turned off IFF friend-or-foe identification, painting their own side?

    Wasn''t this the same as having a gun pointed to the back of one''s head, daring to say a word in opposition, you''d be directly executed by missile!

    Who was the rookie?

    Or was it Little Chili?

    Big Bear didn''t dare to ask or object.

    "For real, kisses!"

    Chen Fei snickered gleefully as he quietly turned off the fire control radar and reactivated the IFF friend-or-foe identification, then actedpletely oblivious with an innocent expression.

    Thems channels filled with cheerful voices, the tense atmosphere of the looming battle dissipated entirely.

    Big Bear: "..."

    You''re all terrible people!

    As thetest dynamics of the enemy squadron were captured by ground-based radar, Manager Hanna Gagel, who personally supervised from the control tower, promptly warned the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron taking off.

    "This is themand center, ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron, there are 24 enemy aircraft from the east, and enemy aircraft from three other directions are closing in on you, you best finish the battle within fifteen minutes."

    No sooner had her words ended, someone reported, "Air-to-ground missile detected, direction 270, quantity 3, speed 3.1 Mach, target is the control tower, radar, and anti-air missile sites."

    While veering from their intended routes, the enemy squadrons from the other three directions didn''t forget tounch long-range strikes on Aircrew Base 911.

    "Air defense formation ready."

    "Anti-air missiles locked on the target, Launcher 1, fire! Launcher 2, fire! Launcher 3, fire! Launcher 4..."

    "Increase jamming power!"

    "Missiles detected again, bearing 180, count of 5, identified as anti-radiation missiles."

    "Prepare to release decoy res!"

    "Charge the Faraday cage to 100% load."

    "Certain units, proceed with the n to retreat to the underground bunkers and activate the second backupmand center!"

    ...

    The various posts inside the tower began their respective response operations in an orderly manner; an Aircrew Base prepared for defense and one unprepared werepletely different matters.

    Aircrew Base 911 was not as easy to bully as the destroyed Aircrew Base 897, especially since a batch of electronic and electronic warfare experts had recently arrived.

    Within the Aircrew Base, one missile after another, trailing thick smoke, soared into the sky, aiming for enemy fighters 50 kilometers away.

    The just-emptied missileunchers were still scorching hot when the ground crew began loading new missiles.

    The groundmand center at Aircrew Base 911 hadn''t had a chance to assist the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron that had departed for battle before it ran into trouble itself.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov didn''t hesitate any longer and said over them channel, "Command center, please assist with guidance!"

    Originally nning to close the distance with the enemy to improve missile uracy, there was no longer time for that.

    The enemy squadrons from the other three directions had alreadyunched their attack on the Aircrew Base en route, so it was best to fire a volley of missiles first while the ground-based radar could still be of help.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, lock onto your respective targets, Fox-1 mode,unch two missiles simultaneously!"

    The sight of the turboprop aircraft lined up andunching missiles alongside a MiG-28 Jet Fighter was spectacr, embodying the morbid beauty of a firing squad execution.

    The enemy squadron approaching from the east had juste into visual range when it uncontrobly widened its eyes at the sight of the thirty-two missilesing head-on.

    Fuck!

    "Climb with me!"

    With the assistance of ground-based radar for guidance, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, led by Major Chekhov, tilted their noses upward and began a steep climb without needing to worry about the missiles they had fired.

    The ground-based radar was much more powerful than the electronic pods and even more so than the early warning aircraft; within a certain range, it could greatly amplifybat effectiveness.

    This was also why the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s first target when ambushing other Aircrew Bases was the enemy''s radar systems.

    Beep beep beep!

    A warning sound from the enemy''s fire control radar echoed in the cockpit.

    "Ignore it, climb at full speed!"

    Squadron deputy leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios shouted in them channel.

    Following the Energy Maneuver Tactics rule, having altitude means not having to worry about those missiles, especially since a sizable portion of the enemy''s hastilyunched missiles hadn''t locked on to their targets yet.

    On the other hand, the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron had a higher hit rate with their programmablebat bombs, now under the control of ground-based radar.

    Strike first to gain the upper hand, hesitate and suffer the consequences.

    At an altitude of 6700 meters, more than ten missiles closed in on the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

    "Prepare to evade!"

    Chekhov loudly reminded everyone, timing it just right as the turboprop squadron gained enough altitude to evade being stuck in the inescapable range of the enemy''sbat bombs.

    Trading altitude for speed made it easier to shake off the missile pursuit.

    "Let me do it!"

    Chen Fei, on the other hand, steered his control stick to meet the iing missiles.

    The task of dancing with the missiles began its ticking countdown again.

    In the distance, a series of explosions red, with at least nine fighters unable to evade the thirty-twobat bombs, bursting into balls of me in the sky.

    At least three missiles for each downed fighter jet, thebat results were highly fruitful under the guidance of ground-based radar.

    This barrage had taken out at least a third of the enemy force, with the surviving number of enemy fighters even one less than the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

    But that would depend on the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron''s ability to evade the return missile salvo in the second round.

    System: Dodging missiles for a cumtive 31 seconds/60 seconds, maintain elegant posture, receive Energy Points +200!

    Genuine Fragrance!

    Activate "Basic Optical Observer Level 4."

    One, two, three, four...

    In the blink of an eye, the skill-enhanced vision immediately spotted six blue thick lines connecting to his own "Big Mouth Monster" unit number 211.

    The predictive trajectories were clearly visible.

    While everyone was maneuvering wildly to avoid the fast-approaching missiles, Chen Fei, seemingly confused, was the only one piloting his aircraft head-on into them.

    Upon noticing this, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios urgently said over them, "Rookie, what are you doing?"

    "It''s-Show-Time!"

    -

 Chapter 124: Section 124 - Graceful Dance Moves

    Show off, huh?

    Everything that''s not for Energy Points is just showing off!

    With a light push on the control stick, Chen Fei easily broke free from the six thick green lines using the maneuverability of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft.

    The next second, they wrapped around again like maggots to a bone.

    But aren''t Energy Points delightful?

    Chen Fei pulled off a huge fake death on his own and took at least half of the missiles with him, greatly relieving the pressure on hisrades. Everyone else had fewer than one missile to deal with, which was much more rxed.

    Some dragged missiles away, while others faced the iing enemy again.

    Private Military Contractors don''t have professional bombers, not even the top ten giants in the industry are an exception.

    If it''s necessary to use bombers against Magical Beasts and Mutants, it''s probably time for the sovereign state''s air force to take action themselves. The day-to-day military tasks undertaken by military contractors often aren''t heavy, which is why they are profitable.

    So, for the iing enemy fighters, they must make a key choice: should they carry more air-to-air or air-to-ground munitions?

    If they choose to carry more air-to-air ammunition, once they arrive at Aircrew Base 911, they can only awkwardly use their machine guns for strafing. The limited firepower of the 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullets is quite limited against ground facilities, which is only suitable for bullying Magical Beasts and Mutants without air defense weapons and sufficient defense.

    But to deal with an aircrew base, it''s still far from enough.

    If they decide to prioritize air-to-ground munitions, their air-to-airbat power will be significantly weakened, making them clumsy inbat and easily facing the awkward situation of running out of ammunition.

    How to make the trade-off is a headache-inducing problem.

    However, looking at Aircrew Base 911, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron didn''t need to consider that much at all. Just load up with air-to-air ammunition, that''s all. Seven mounts meant seven programmable close-rangebat missiles, guaranteed to make the opponents howl in pain.

    Unless the enemy''s single batch fleet could form an overwhelming numerical and firepower advantage, it wouldn''t be easy to overpower the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron, especially since Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear and his crew had the home advantage. Even without Early Warning Aircraft bonuses, the ground-based radar system is not for decoration.

    "Rookie, are you trying to get yourself killed? What the hell are you doing?"

    When Squadron Leader Chekhov Big Bear, piloting a single-man MiG-28 jet fighter, saw six missiles chasing after a "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop, his hair stood on end.

    Even himself did not have the confidence to take on sixbat bombs at once!

    "Don''t worry, I''ve got this. Just ignore me!"

    Chen Fei pushed down on the control stick, making the "Big Mouth Monster" barrel roll smoothly like a waltz dance step, tracing arc after arc, drawing closer to the enemy squadron.

    A hostile "Big Mouth Monster" appeared in the HUD¡ªit was an encounter between peers; why rush to annihtion so eagerly?

    Let''s go!

    The aircraft shivered slightly as several tracerden machine gun bullets ignited vivid predictive trajectories as they shot out.

    The blue trajectory lines Chen Fei saw were not from his own machine gun bullets and missiles. The first reason is to avoid confusion with enemy attacks, and the second is because the onboard Fire Control System already had that function with an official name: Attack Envelope.

    The blue lines that Chen Fei saw were actually the enemy aircraft''s attack envelope, which seemed more appropriate and urate for him as the target, hence known as predictive trajectory.

    An unexpected burst of machine gun fire urately hit a "Big Mouth Monster" more than a thousand meters ahead without a single bullet missing its mark. mes erupted instantly, and as time passed, the damage grew more severe.

    Chen Fei did not intend to chase them down, so he changed directions and plunged into the enemy formation.

    When someone barrels into a formation, dragging several missiles, both sides would panic.

    Boom! Boom!

    The two trailing missiles finally exhausted their energy and triggered their self-destruct sequence, futilely exploding into two fireballs in mid-air.

    Chen Fei raised his left hand, flipping off a group of enemy aircraft about fifty to sixty meters to the left, then suddenly pushed the control stick to the left, taking the barrel roll maneuver to the extreme.

    Seeing a "Genuine Fragrance" "Big Mouth Monster" unexpectedly squeeze into their formation, the enemy pilots were genuinely caught off guard. Before they could react, aircraft number 211 was already rolling past them.

    A shadow shed past the cockpit, the enemy lead pilot shouted, "He''s on the left!"

    But his Fire Control Operator was shouting, "Right side, right side, oh no!"

    A missile whistled in, then another.

    Boom, boom, boom, boom...

    While missiles could distinguish friend from foe with IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) and not hit allies by mistake, they couldn''t maneuver elegantly enough to avoid friendly units inbat.

    Aircraft number 211, in the midst of a rapid barrel roll, suddenly rolled from the enemy''s right to the left. The chasing missiles behind had no time to turn and dodge, and crashed headlong into the fray...

    It was a matter of giving them a taste of their own medicine, which had nothing to do with technology but was purely about astounding tactical imagination, a gift.

    "Done!"

    The missile proximity warning in the cockpit ceased abruptly, and Chen Fei took a long breath.

    Design in a video game might not cover every angle; only in reality could something like what had just happened ur.

    System: Danced with missiles for a total of 41 seconds/60 seconds, maintain beautiful posture, and earn Energy Points +200!

    Combat Missiles have a range of about 30 kilometers, traveling at 3 Mach per second, theoretically staying in the air for about 30 seconds afterunch. Due to the substantial propent consumed with each maneuver, the actual time is much shorter, typically around 7-15 seconds.

    Especially someone like Chen Fei, who maximized the Big Mouth Monster turboprop''s maneuverability, dragging the missile like flying a kite, so that the trailing Combat Missile''s hang time was rapidly depleted.

    In the distance, a Big Mouth Monster aircraft trailing thick smoke and mes was getting closer and closer to the ground, attempting an emergencynding. But just as thending gear was deployed and before it could touch the ground, it unexpectedly exploded violently into a fireball that rolled endlessly on the ground.

    The Rookie looked around defiantly. Anyone else?

    "F*K, I have to eject now!~"

    A scream came through themunication channel.

    There was a click, and themunication was cut off.

    "Who? Who was shot down?"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov had just taken out an enemy ne and diverted some of his attention to hisrades.

    At this critical moment, every fighter on our side was an invaluablebat force.

    "It''s ''Mint''! She''s ejected."

    The female executive manager inside Aircrew Base 911 captured the loss of onemunication signal from Genuine Fragrance Squadron on the ground-based radar.

    "I''m fine, sorry, Squadron Leader!"

    On the copilot seat of Z-9 Armed Helicopter No. 2, another youngdy from Genuine Fragrance Squadron, "Mint" Susanna Emma, with a voice full of regret, spoke up in themunication channel, her voice starting to choke. She hadn''t managed to shoot down an enemy ne, but instead had been shot down herself.

    With the fighter jet gone, the emergencymunication equipment began to work.

    "It''s my fault for not covering Miss Emma properly."

    "Mint" Susanna Emma''s partner, "Saffron" Kattir, took on the responsibility voluntarily. Partners are all about support. What kind of partner would you be if you remained silent now?

    Squadron Leader Chekhov said, "It''s okay, as long as you''re alive, that''s what''s important. ''Mint,'' make sure to protect yourself and wait patiently for rescue."

    The Scavenger team had already ejected, and it would be some time before anyone coulde for a pickup. It might be necessary to spend several days in these wild and deste hills.

    "Understood, Squadron Leader Chekhov!"

    As a rescue personnel of Genuine Fragrance Squadron, Susanna Emma was well-prepared for this; she was notcking in survival experience in the wild. Not just three or five days, even ten days or half a month would be no problem.

    Inside the ejected cockpit seat, there were plenty of things: food, water, medicine, weapons, andmunication equipment, among other supplies.

    In exchange for the loss of one Big Mouth Monster, Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron took down neen enemy Big Mouth Monsters, giving the female executive manager a glimmer of hope. She clenched a cold sweat in her palm and shouted loudly, "There are still five enemy nes, be quick!"

    "Regroup into pairs and take them out!"

    With the enemy outnumbered, the confidence of Chekhov Big Bear surged.

    Fifteen against five, three against one, there was no chance for the enemy to win.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium was overconfident after all, and didn''t equip eachbat group with electronic pods; instead, relying on the ground-based radar system, Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron took the initiative. They managed the guidance of the Combat Missiles through the battlefield data link andunched another attack, with one fighter performing the tactical value of two.

    The five Big Mouth Monsters from the 912 Aircrew Base to the east of 911 Aircrew Base didn''t fight to the bitter end and immediately scattered to escape.

    The pilot of Z-9 Armed Helicopter No. 1 from Aircrew Base 911, callsign "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, caught his breath and said with a sense of unfinished business, "Shall we pursue?"

    He and his old partner "Wasabi" Abiko Fushi-kun had just taken down an enemy ne together, eximing with delight.

    Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios immediately said, "Don''t chase the impoverished!"

    "Our objective is to protect the Aircrew Base, fall back!"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov hesitated for a moment but quickly made up his mind.

    The female executive manager inmand at Aircrew Base 911, Hanna Gagar, had no intention of interfering, leaving the decision entirely to Squadron Leader Chekhov.

    Commanders in the field, beyond certain orders, thebat personnel at the front understood the current situation best, and she trusted Squadron Leader Chekhov''s professionalpetence more.

    Boom!~

    A fireball crashed near the control tower; the dense air defense array didn''t manage topletely destroy the air-to-ground missile in time, and some wreckage still fell into the Aircrew Base.

    The shockwave from the resulting st made the ss in all the control tower windows rattle violently, whitening the faces of the many people inside as they unanimously stared out the windows.

    Hanna Gagar shouted, "Stay calm, don''t panic!"

 Chapter 125: Section 125 - The Sky is Crying

    The voice of the female executive manager, like a Sea-calming Needle, had a clear leading effect; the various stations that had been somewhat chaotic once again entered a state of orderly operation.

    If the tower falls, the big boss dies first.

    Should these little fish worry about being caught in the crossfire now?

    Although Aircrew Base was under attack and the enemy had already begun their raid on antiaircraft interception, not all of the news was bad.

    "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had already sessfully defeated enemies from one direction.

    Boom!~

    Yet another fireball fell from the sky and smashed heavily just outside the Aircrew Base.

    To avoid the enemy exploiting blind spots in the ground-based radar, Aircrew Base 911 utilized helium balloons to suspend an electronic reconnaissance pod at an altitude of 500 meters above ground, working together with ground-based radar to form a radar reconnaissance system with no dead angles.

    After working for twenty minutes, the balloon-hung pod honorablypleted its use and was hit by a closebat missile that had sessfully breached the antiaircraft fire, smashing to the ground and shattering into a pile of scrap metal.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov, who was leading his team back, asked, "How is the situation at Aircrew Base?"

    The immobile Aircrew Base was under much more pressure than the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron¡ªIn the eyes of the enemy fleet, it was just a live target.

    Once all the antiaircraft firepower is systematically eliminated, the whole base would be as vulnerable as if it were undefended.

    Hanna Gagar leisurely poured herself a ss of red wine, took a light sip, and responded in an unhurried manner, "I have no problems here, and can hold on."

    The actual situation, however, was that half of the intensive antiaircraft firepower had been eliminated, and two of the antiaircraft missileunchers were still desperately being reloaded with ammunition.

    Under the leadership of the mechanic team leader Xiao Ming, they ingenarily pushed two pilotless "Big Mouth Monsters" to near the runway. In conjunction with hastily welded steel-tube ballistic rails, these acted as movable ground-based antiaircraft missileunchers capable ofunching fourteen closebat missiles. Guided by ground-based radar, the effect was very good.

    (In 2018, the Houthi Armed Forces used a captured MiG-29 radar along with the photoelectric detection device dismantled from an Apache armed helicopter to guide surfaceunched R-27R semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missiles, shooting down an F-15)

    The attacking enemy fleet naturally didn''t fare any better, with at least ten aircraft being destroyed.

    Mounting an assault on an Aircrew Base has never been an easy task.

    Even for the repeatedly sessful "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, each victory relied solely on the element of surprise, taking advantage when the enemy waspletely unprepared.

    Aircrew Base 897 never imagined the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron could extend thebat radius of the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, conducting an ultra-low-altitude flight over a long distance for a sessful strike.

    Aircrew Base 909 also didn''t expect that, after a fierce exchange, when both sides were sounding the retreat, two pilots got drunk and were goaded into a midnight solo flight¡ªa reckless escapade that left the devastated 909 looking as if it had been bombarded by mines. Even the 911 itself was dumbfounded.

    What insiders couldn''t predict was even less expected by the enemy¡ªwho in their right mind would forsake sleep and decency for such midnight mischief? That the Merman Brothers Consortium went nuts was both anticipated and reasonable.

    It''s not to say that anyone could replicate the sess of Aircrew Base 911, pulling off the same feat twice.

    An Aircrew Base with a ground-based radar system and aplete antiaircraft system prepared for battle isn''t so easy to ovee.

    "63 enemy aircraft ahead, damn, so many!"

    Chekhov Big Bear took a nce at the enemy and friendly identification datapiled by the battle data link.

    Just moments before, "Genuine Fragrance" squadron had maintained a three-to-one advantage, only to suddenly find themselves trapped in a one-to-four dead end; such is the caprice of fate.

    Fortunately, in the night raid on Aircrew Base 909 by Chen Fei and Chekhov Big Bear, the two together managed to wipe out nearly a third of the Merman Brothers Consortium''s jet fighter squadron.

    To stabilize their other operations, in the battle against Aircrew Base 911, they were no longer able to deploy a jet fighter squadron without creating a defensive gap.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios drawled, "There are still five behind us, Chekhov!"

    Coming from the 912 Aircrew Base, thest surviving five turboprop aircraft scurried away only to sneakily follow behind the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, staying hidden beyond visual range.

    "Five cowards, not a concern, if they dare toe, Uncle Chekhov will send them to meet Stalin!"

    Squadron Leader Chekhov was indifferent, a bunch of cowards whose spirits had been broken,pletely devoid of fighting will.

    His MiG Aircraft would just need to turn around, and those wimpy "Big Mouth Monsters" would surely be scared into falling right out of the sky.

    From the west 910, the south 909, and the north 913, fighters that had taken off from the three aircrew bases had joined forces, focusing their main attention on the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron on their way back to aid after their attempt to quickly eliminate the 911 Aircrew Base had failed.

    As soon as both sides entered the range of each other''sbat missiles, all of the onboard fire control radars brazenly showered each other with beams, a standoff at the ready.

    The rm in the cockpit red incessantly.

    "Missiles! Damn it, so many missiles!"

    Suddenly, without warning, the rm sounded even more urgently.

    At least forty missiles were flying head-on.

    "You all dodge, let me!"

    Chen Fei gently pushed the throttle, and aircraft number 211 broke away from the formation again, the person with a death wish attracting the enemy''s hatred, no, the enemy''s firepower!

    Chekhov: "..."

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios: "..."

    Everyone felt that the Rookie was unusually excited today, not knowing what was stirring him up, why couldn''t he just calm down a bit?

    -

    Skill Shop: Maoelectric Conversion Component: 100 Energy Points

    Better buy it first out of respect!

    Energy Points: 95/5000

    System: Ding! Acquired Maoelectric Conversion Component (requires Maic Field Management Component)

    1. Metal Devouring (can only absorb 1000 tons of metal per day)

    2. Eyes of Tyranny (consumes 1 Energy Point, duration 15 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds)

    3. Secret Technique: Fight to the Death

    4. Physical Evolution Database (102), Categories: Cold Weapon (7) Tools (95) / Management...

    5. Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (upgradeable): 200 Energy Points---Sold out

    6. Basic Optical Observer Level 4: Low-light Enhancement, Infrared Thermal Imaging, Full Spectrum Imaging (Level 5 requires 100 Energy Points) | "Micro Vision," "Ultra-long Vision," "Macroscopic Perspective," "Visual Assistance"

    7. Elemental Dposition

    8. Elemental Synthesis

    9. Alloy Database

    10. Metal Shaping

    11. Basic Laser Emitter (upgradeable) | Unavable (Photoelectric Conversion Component not working properly)

    12. Photoelectric Conversion Component | Unavable (Maoelectric Conversion Component not working properly)

    13. Maoelectric Conversion Component | Unavable (requires Maic Field Management Component)

    Damn it... I knew it, this thing is nothing but a trap!

    It''s a nesting doll of problems!

    How I wish I could drag this damn system out and beat it up, MMP!

    -

    System: Ding! Killed five enemy pilots (firearms not allowed), gained Energy Points +500!

    Herees a new mission!

    Oh shoot! No wonder the reward in Energy Points is so high, You can''t use firearms, only bare hands and cold weapons, right?

    Hey, buddy!

    How about we hop out of our nes and have a go at it?

    ...This must be the definition of insanity!!!

    Chen Fei couldn''t figure out how toplete this damned mission at this critical juncture.

    Continuing to push the joystick, Unit 211 "Big Mouth Monster" kept advancing, immediately drawing a barrage of missiles from the front.

    With a quick nce, he squeezed the machine gun trigger.

    A barrage of bullets sprayed out.

    "Everyone, use the machine guns, fire! Then switch to Fox-1 mode, two missiles!"

    Chen Fei''s maneuver reminded Squadron Leader Chekhov, who promptly issued the order on themunication channel.

    One after another, the "Big Mouth Monsters" followed the MiG-28, pouring machine gun fire from their wings into the sky, with crimson trajectories cutting through the heavens, followed by missiles detaching from the wings'' mounts, howling out with trailing smoke.

    The window for close-quartersbat was extremely brief, always measured in seconds; tactical patterns immediately unfolded, opening salvoes, knight''s leap, bishop''s diagonal, pawn''s charge, checkmate...

    As soon as thebat bombs were fired, the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron''s fighters scattered.

    "Charge in, engage them in a melee!"

    Chekhov Big Bear roared over themunication channel, the best tactic when outnumbered was to engage in a melee, a messy fight, chaos bringing victory.

    Even a blind cat finds a dead rat, and probability finally bore fruit as twobat bombs mmed into the trajectory of 12.7 mm bullets, exploding with a boom.

    Shooting missiles with machine guns was all about luck.

    Trying was always better than doing nothing.

    What if it worked? Just like right now!

    The sky had turned into an ancient battlefield, with knightsunching decisive death charges at each other, engines roaring like fluttering banners,bat bombs acting like long spears thrust at the enemy, and machine guns like raised swords.

    In an instant, a fierce collision decided both sides'' fate.

    Boom! ~ Boom boom! ~

    There was a rumble like distant thunder in the clear skies,

    but not a cloud to be seen over the Patan School nestled in the mountains.

    The cheerfulughter gradually faded in therge courtyard,

    as children stopped their y,

    simultaneously looking up to the sky in wonder.

    Strange ck smoke,

    torrents of fire like shooting stars,

    shes one after another,

    the crudely drawn lines across the blue canvas steadily lengthened,

    and the elementary school teacher under the apple tree wore a face full of worry,

    as blood, fire, and iron fell from the sky,

    look, the sky is crying!

    -

    "''Wind Chime'' squadron, all members KIA!"

    "''Rainbow Flower'' squadron, more than half casualties, requesting disengagement frombat!"

    "Only I remain from the ''Scimitar'' squadron, can''t fight any longer, can''t keep fighting, ah..."

    "''Scimitar'' squadron, all members KIA!"

    ...

    "''Cinnamon Powder'' Sug Sati, KIA!"

    "''Miso'' Yamada Yuhu, disengaged frombat!"

    "''Scallion Oil'' Babarro Big Bear, KIA!"

    "''Fragrant Orchid'' Carlos Silva Lane, missing in action!"

    "''Wasabi'' Abiko Fushi, KIA!"

    "Rookie..."

    "I''m still alive!"

    "''Rookie'' Chen Fei, still in the fight!"

    -

 Chapter 126: Section 126 - Killing Without Firearms

    In the fight to the death, both enemies and allies were consumed with a bloodlust.

    Everyone had only one life to live, so casualties within Aircrew Base 911''s "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were inevitable.

    Even Chen Fei, who had be tough-skinned and was able to ignore various light weapons as a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, could still be killed if targeted by a barrage of missiles. He could be killed by a st wave or suffocation if he tried to take a shortcut with a cloud explosion.

    -

    A cacophony of cracking and shattering sounds filled the air as fierce wind suddenly gushed into the cockpit.

    The cockpit canopy, riddled with bullet holes, finally shattered into pieces, transforming the 211 aircraft into a spectacrly convertible fighter jet.

    The battered 211 aircraft, under Chen Fei''s control, still managed to perform intense, high-mobility maneuvers. Four "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft were hot on his trail, but his "Big Mouth Monster" had long since run out of ammunition.

    The aircraft''s centerline and under the left and right wings were a total of seven hardpoints, which meant it could carry only seven Combat Bombs. Taking down two enemy aircraft was a cause for celebration, though most of the time firing ended up missing the target.

    For every missile to take down an enemy jet, how foolish would the enemy pilot have to be to allow one to tailgate them andunch a missile from behind?

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had a total of 500 rounds of 12.7mm caliber machine gun ammo, evenly distributed between the wings, which meant the actual number of firing opportunities was cut in half.

    A short burst was ten bullets gone, hold down the trigger and in just a few seconds, they were depleted.

    The era of dogfighting was long gone. Only Private Military Contractors still yed this lowbrow and unskilled game. In thebat lineup of Sovereign-level air forces, the superior fighter jets had be vassals to the Early Warning Aircraft, engaging in various tactical breakthroughs, firing missiles and bombs before fleeing, bing the little brother busily running ahead and behind.

    Although modernbat aircraft still retain machine guns and cannons from the era of dogfighting, their practical significance is no longer in their killing effect. More often, they serve a warning role. To put it bluntly, they are especially for bullying civilians.

    If some blind civilian aircraft deviated from its course, flying where it shouldn''t¡ªdamn it, ignoring radiomunication and unresponsive to fire control radar illumination (because they most likely don''t have a warning system).

    What to do?

    No problem!

    Send a few Tracer Bullets from behind, a whooshing entrance into the pilot''s field of view, both strikingly visible and intimidating, ensuring immediate, fright-induced wetting of pants.

    At this moment, both the enemy and ally pilots had their human brains beaten into dog brains.

    The pilots still fighting in the sky had no choice but to pick up the dogfighting skills of their predecessors.

    Not only had Chen Fei run out of ammunition, but the four enemy aircraft chasing him were also running low.

    Otherwise, the four "Big Mouth Monsters" could have blindly sprayed bullets, suppressing the front 211 aircraft with a barrage of fire, followed byunching missiles.

    To dance with missiles and wait to be blown up was the true ordeal.

    But Chen Fei didn''t give his pursuers the chance. He kept swinging the control stick, maintaining the "Big Mouth Monster" in a serpentine maneuvering state, veering left and right unpredictably.

    Many tactical maneuvers that the vice squad leader "Devil Pepper" Iline Rusios hadn''t yet had the chance to teach him, Chen Fei grasped intuitively during the fierce aerialbat. On the other hand, it was also due to the "Big Mouth Monster" Turboprop Aircraft''s reliable quality and outstanding performance, which withstood all sorts of trial and error.

    If it were someone else, they would likely have be dizzy or even nauseous, and they might even have hurt themselves trying.

    After all, even a turboprop fighter aircraft can withstand far higher G-force limits than the human body can.

    Often the fighter jet would be fine, but the person inside couldn''t take it anymore.

    Even because of imperfect tactical maneuvers, one could be locked in the pilot seat, unable to move, barely able to lift a finger, just waiting to be shot down.

    For Chen Fei, a true rookie... well, it was as if these essential flying experiences didn''t exist at all. He flew (risking death) however he wanted (risking death), withplete freedom (the freedom to risk death).

    With a slight shake of the wings, he skillfully dodged the Predictive Trajectory of the oing bullets from the wing-mounted guns. A swarm of Tracer Bullets whistled by hazardously close but touched nothing, which naturally meant zero damage.

    "System, tools¡ªcrowbar!"

    System: Ding! Cold Weapon "Crowbar" evolution time 0/5 seconds!

    Gauging the distance in his mind, Chen Fei unfastened his seatbelt, pulled the throttle back slightly, stood up from his seat, turned around, grasped the backrest with one hand, maneuvered the control stick with his foot, and extended his other hand,pleting these actions in one fluid motion.

    Immediately, the 211 aircraft began to slow down and started to raise its nose.

    Five secondster, the White Steel Crowbar materialized, hooked on the emergency ejection ring on the rear seat. With a pull, bang!~

    The rear seat was ejected in an instant.

    The "Big Mouth Monster''s" innate stability immediately came into y. After a violent shudder, the aircraft stabilized once more and automatically leveled out.

    The ejected rear seat flew over thirty meters before a parachute bloomed against the wind.

    One of the four pursuing "Big Mouth Monsters" failed to dodge and crashed head-on into it.

    The collision with a parachute wouldn''t be much better than a bird strike. As the nylon fabric chopped by the des swirled through the air, the canopy chords bound the aircraft tightly. That wasn''t the worst part, as an aviation seat hanging under the parachute smashed open a wing with the force of the impact.

    The damage to the aerodynamic shape of the wing was instantaneous, expanding to irreparable levels in a chain reaction.

    What had previously kept the jet buoyant and freely soaring in the sky now became a killer; the entire aircraft disintegrated in midair and plummeted towards the ground.

    Not until it crashed heavily onto the ground, exploding into a giant fireball, did anyone see a pilot eject.

    Perhaps they were dizzied by the spinning or firmly pressed into their seats, unable to pull the ejection handle between their thighs in time.

    System: Ding! Enemy pilot kill: 2/5 (no firearms), energy points +500!

    A moment of wild tactical imagination had yielded miraculous results.

    Chen Fei was just a blind cat that happened to catch a dead rat, never expecting to actually seed.

    He had just re-secured himself in the seat and hadn''t had the chance to rejoice for long before the missile attack warning sounded again.

    The other three "Big Mouth Monsters" resolutelyunched theirst threebat bombs at him.

    Three thick blue lines locked tightly onto Chen Fei''s Aircraft No. 211, swaying, continuing to sway.

    He hadn''t improved much in his flying skills, but his experience in evading missiles had increased a lot; he calmly performed a barrel roll maneuver once more and dove towards the ground.

    The altitude indicator''s numbers began to plummet.

    4500 meters!

    3200 meters!

    1300 meters!

    800 meters!

    300 meters!

    200 meters!

    180 meters!

    He pulled the control stick all the way back, pushing the throttle to the max.

    The PT6A series turboprop engine output at full overload, not sparing the decrease in its lifespan.

    "Rise for me!"

    Powerful G-forces pressed harshly on Chen Fei, causing bursts of darkness to flood his vision and his eyes to swell, but he was indifferent to it all.

    120 meters!

    Aircraft No. 211 struggled to lift its nose, and the three fallingbat bombs drew nearer, the distance between them now less than 200 meters.

    For the speed of a missile, it was almost instant.

    80 meters!

    Chen Fei and his aircraft were still getting closer to the ground, albeit at a much slower speed.

    50 meters!

    Aircraft No. 211 finally leveled off, but it was still sinking.

    If it weren''t for the seatbelt, Chen Fei might have been flung out of the cockpit, and now, with the canopy gone, it would have been even easier.

    30 meters!

    The "Big Mouth Monster," roaring terribly, shook violently but stopped descending, gaining speed as it leveled out.

    After the three missiles grazed the aircraft almost touching it, they exploded without warning, and the shockwave hadn''t reached Aircraft No. 211 when the turboprop, still shuddering, sessfully escaped the effective kill radius. The shrapnel merely left some barely significant impact marks on the aircraft''s surface.

    The majority of the explosion''s strength from thebat bombs was fruitlessly discharged onto the ground, leaving arge radial pattern of char marks.

    System: Ding! Dance with missiles for a cumtive 60 seconds/60 seconds, and maintain a beautiful pose, energy points +200!

    Energy Points: 295/5000

    With 500 energy points still up for harvest, Chen Fei shook his dizzy head, pulled on the control stick, and propelled Aircraft No. 211 back into the sky.

    The great battle had been raging until now, with less than 10 aircraft remaining in the skies for both sides.

    Everyone seemed to have turned into a fighting machine, abandoning all emotions, battling to the veryst moment.

    -

 Chapter 127: Section 127 - Eat a Big Mouth Monster

    "Who still has ammunition?"

    Out of ammunition and desperate, Major Chekhov yelled on themunication channel. His MiG-28 Jet Fighter''s ammunition reserve was even smaller than that of the "Big Mouth Monster." No matter how much he tried to conserve, he had still run out of thest bit of machine gun bullets.

    If, if he just had one morebat bomb, Chekhov was confident he could shoot down thest opponent from the sky.

    Then he could join hands with otherrades and further expand their victories.

    "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios nced at her ammunition counter and said, "I have 20 machine gun bullets left!"

    Her Aircraft No. 212 was constantly entangled in a dogfight with an enemy aircraft.

    Luckily, the "Big Mouth Monster" had strong endurance. Even without carrying extra fuel tanks, it could stillst a long time in the sky.

    Both sides, possessing only the strength for ast strike, coincidentally chose not to fire unless a sure shot was assured, reluctant to expend theirst bit of ammunition.

    At this moment, true is false and false bes true.

    Both friends and foes assumed each other as thest strike, chasing and evading each other in the sky in a deadlock.

    "I, I still have one missile, that guy is too cunning!"

    Besides the squadron leader "Peanut Butter" Major Chekhov, deputy squadron leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, and the indestructible rookie Chen Fei, the only remaining fourth pilot in the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron was "Miso" Yamada Yuhu, who was furiously chasing his opponent, trying to lock on and send him off with thest missile.

    Who would have thought that a pilot from the "Scavenger" Squad wouldst till the end?

    "I have got a crowbar, who wants it?"

    Chen Fei looked down at the Physics Holy Sword pressed against his leg. This thing was incredibly effective.

    Two enemy aircraft, one on the left and one on the right, were trailing behind him, seeking the best opportunity to attack, not daring to get too close anymore.

    Chekhov Big Bear: "..."

    He had long realized that this rookie was increasingly defiant, practically bing a thorn in the side of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron.

    Suddenly, several blue streaks appeared outside the cockpit, the closest oneing less than half a meter from Chen Fei''s head.

    He quickly pushed the control stick, pushing the throttle all the way forward; the "Big Mouth Monster" suddenly dove into a breaking S dive, and more than ten tracer bullets almost whooshed past its tail.

    As soon as the maneuver finished, the aircraft leveled out, and Chen Fei immediately pulled back hard on the control stick, causing the "Big Mouth Monster" to pitch up sharply.

    The two enemy aircraft that missed their attack quickly followed, the lead aircraft No. 211 climbed over a hundred meters, then continued with a backward somersault, executing a wless tumble maneuver.

    Although the two enemy "Big Mouth Monsters" attempted to maintain their advantageous six o''clock firing position, Chen Fei did not y along. With a breaking S followed by a tumble, Aircraft No.

    211 suddenly closed the distance, forcibly cutting into formation, swiftly approaching one of the enemy aircraft from the right side while gradually lowering itsnding gear and the fusge fiercely turning left at full speed and thending gear on the underside of the left wing brutally crashing into the other''s cockpit canopy.

    The opponent was still oveing the aftermath of a high-overload maneuver, unable to move for a moment as a shadow loomed over, they could only turn their heads, watching helplessly as a huge tire approached the cockpit canopy.

    It was instantly verified whether the aircraft''snding gear or the cockpit canopy was harder.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" had a dry weight of 3 tons, and Chen Fei''s Aircraft No. 211 at that moment, even without any ammunition load and reduced weight from the shattered cockpit canopy ss, still weighed at least 3.1 tons with the remaining fuel.

    Now, all this weight was concentrated on one of the three wheels, then irresistibly mmed down on the other "Big Mouth Monster''s" cockpit canopy, as if it had been cruelly run over by a tank''s armor track¡­ The entire cockpit area was instantly ttened.

    The inside of the shattered ss turned a vivid red, as if sprayed with ayer of red paint.

    System: Ding! Enemy pilots killed four/five (firearms not used), Energy Points +500!

    "Holy shit!~"

    The other "Big Mouth Monster" cockpit, both the pilot in the front and back seats witnessed this unbelievable scene, unable to suppress a soul-deep, trembling scream.

    "There''s one more!"

    Chen Fei swung the control stick. Aircraft No. 211, unable to retract thending gear in time, tangled up the opponent that was too slow to escape in a barrel roll maneuver.

    Cockpit against cockpit¡­

    The enemy aircraft stared into "The Abyss," and "The Abyss" stared back at them.

    Chen Fei suddenly pulled the ejection handle between his legs.

    Previously, he had triggered the rear seat''s ejection using the crowbar. His front seat could still eject normally.

    Following the "Big Mouth Monster''s" standard ejection sequence, where the rear seat ejects first, followed by the front, this rookie had leveraged this rule as a weapon to shoot down the enemy aircraft.

    Who says you can''t kill without a gun head, at least the ejection seat base has a micro-rocket thruster, indeed a rocket without abat unit (warhead).

    The thirty-plus meters between the two cockpits closed almost instantaneously.

    Crack!~

    The enemy cockpit canopy emitted a snap as a silver crowbar brutally smashed a hole, hooking onto the cross frame directly in the middle.

    A face bearing a harmless smile pressed against the cockpit cover, peering inside, still strapped to the ejection seat.

    This sudden scare was indeed frightening!

    "Ghost!~~~~~~~~"

    "God!~~~~~~~~~"

    The pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit were directly scared to the point of peeing themselves, was the guy outside crazy?

    Daring to y a mid-air leap?

    Of course not crazy, he was still wearing a parachute!

    Chen Fei reached through the hole made by the crowbar, grabbed onto the cockpit canopy''s cross frame, and swung the crowbar down hard.

    Indeed, there were no bullets, but there was enough strength.

    With a smack, a crack about a foot square immediately appeared on the top of the cockpit canopy''s ss.

    Then another hit followed.

    The canopy itself had already been opened with a fist-sized hole, immediately reducing its overall integrity. Before the fourth blow was delivered, the entire cockpit canopy finally shattered.

    The crowbar was made of white steel, a high-strength steel also known as high-speed steel, making smashing ss feel like child''s y.

    With the windshield gone, the entire cockpity fully exposed before Chen Fei, utterly defenseless.

    "Get down, get down!"

    The frightened pilot in the front seat of the cockpit frantically pushed the stick, the aircraft executing insane maneuvers, trying to shake off the audacious intruder.

    One heavy hit with the silver crowbar to his head, just one, and the "Big Mouth Monster" slowly steadied itself automatically.

    If the problem couldn''t be resolved, could the creator of the problem not be dealt with?

    As long as there was fuel and no malfunctions, it could continue to fly "unmanned" automatically.

    Turning his head, Chen Fei just happened to see the rear seat pilot stealthily reaching for the ejection handle. Their eyes met, and boom!

    The Physics Holy Sword did not stop its motion, striking with a dull thud that would have cracked his skull open had it not been for the high-strength aviation helmet.

    System: Ding! A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft detected, metallic materials 2.1 tons, absorption: Yes/No|?

    Uh!~

    Of course... Yes!

    The "Big Mouth Monster," stubbornly clutched by Chen Fei, began to tremble violently. The engine stopped roaring, and the body''s surface was covered in cracks, rapidly shrinking and contracting.

    Momentster, the entire turboprop aircraft turned into a pile of non-metallic materials, splintering in mid-air. Along with the two unconscious pilots, they were swept away by the raging wind. The seats, stripped of all metalponents, naturallycked ejection functionality. Whether the parachutes could deploy sessfully was probably only known to God.

    A parachute blossomed slowly in mid-air, as Chen Fei hung underneath it, beginning to tally his gains.

    System: Ding! Absorbed one A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft (missing non-metallic parts),position ratio: Aluminum 72%, Titanium 9%, Iron 6%, Copper 5%, Chromium 4.5%, Magnesium 2%...

    System: Ding! Energy Points +2!

    Energy Points: 297/5000

    System: Ding! Enemy pilots killed: six out of five (no firearms used), gain energy points +500!

    Energy Points: 797/5000

    Chen Fei paused, immediately understanding what had happened.

    It appeared that the two pilots were unlucky, their parachutes had failed to deploy, and they were fatally crashed.

    My Skills:

    Physical Evolution Database (102), categories: Cold Weapons (7), Tools (95)/management...

    Management...

    Create new category "Parts," include A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" turboprop attack aircraft, parts disassembled!

    System: Allocationpleted, "Parts" increased by 2,735,214 items

    Chen Fei''s mind suddenly filled with the image of a "Big Mouth Monster," though it was not aplete aircraft, missing many parts.

    Many non-metallic parts were not absorbed and thus were excluded by the system, which resulted in many gaps, otherwise, the number would have been even higher.

    Even so, every detail was crystal clear, as if it were real.

    He immediately began cross-referencing with the technical manual, and sure enough, no metal part was missing.

    "Reorganize!"

    With millions of parts, just searching would be a challenge, but luckily he was familiar with several thick technical manuals. Chen Fei promptly reorganized some parts ording to modr assemblies,bining many parts together and naming them uniformly, exactly like the ssifications in the manual.

    As a result, the number of parts items immediately decreased significantly, and each item also had added remarks.

    Physical Evolution Database (102), categories: Cold Weapons (7), Tools (95), Parts (339)/management...

    This meant that if the "Big Mouth Monster" ever missed a part, Chen Fei could conjure it up out of thin air to fill in temporarily.

    If one were to expand their thinking a bit, Emmm... Wouldn''t the original Chekhov Big Bear''s factory-issue AK have a solution now?

    Chen Fei''s mood immediately improved.

    "''Genuine Fragrance'' Squadron, return to base, man-portable air defense missiles are ready!"

    The voice of the female executive manager suddenly sounded on themunication channel.

    In the midst of an unprecedentedlyrge free-for-all, Aircrew Base 911 still couldn''t escape unscathed. Ground-based radar suffered strikes and could no longer enhance thebat capabilities of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.

    At the same time, the dense formation of air defense firepower systems and missiles were all destroyed. Even two spare "Big Mouth Monsters" acting temporarily as mobile air defense missileunchers were sessively blown up. Luckily, the mechanics operating within the cockpits escaped quickly, or they would have also faced a cmity.

    After some preparations, the female executive manager Hanna Gagel organized a team of veterans, shouldering man-portable air defense missiles, temporarily setting up a ground trap for the few remaining fighters of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron.

    -

 Chapter 128: Section 128 - Starving to Death

    Abat bomb locked onto the "Big Mouth Monster" fleeing in panic, catching up at a speed at least six times that of its prey.

    Boom!~

    A fireball blossomed in the sky.

    "Damn, my grandson, I''ve avenged you!"

    p! Yamada Yuhu brought his hands together inside the cockpit, his eyes brimming with tears as he bowed his head in sorrow.

    To ensure the only remainingbat bomb had a one hundred percent chance of hitting, he had entangled with the enemy for a long time and finally lured the enemy aircraft into the inescapable zone of the programmable close-rangebat bomb, striking it with one hit.

    They had agreed to meet in theherworld, but now he could only make my grandson wait a few more decades. Yamamoto Yuhu would definitely keep the appointment, without fail.

    -

    Near the Aircrew Base 911, two fireballs exploded in the air one after another.

    Squadron Leader Chekhov from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron yed a small trick by pretending toe to the rescue of Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irine Rusios, abandoning his current opponent and turning to chase the "Big Mouth Monster" that was after aircraft number 212.

    Another "Big Mouth Monster," chased down like a dying dog, didn''t seize the chance to flee. Instead, thinking it could take advantage of the situation cleverly, it didn''t realize that a mantis stalking a cicada was unaware of the oriole behind.

    On the ground, at least ten man-portable air-defense missiles were set up in a "pocket" formation.

    Ten missiles against two turboprop aircraft¡ªit was like child''s y, wasn''t it?

    Squadron Leader Chekhov''s MiG Aircraft and Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irine Rusios''s turboprop aircraft dove into the "pocket," veering left and right at full speed the moment they entered.

    The two enemy aircraft that had been decoyed along the way met head-on with the man-portable air-defense missilesunching into the sky, with two fireballs exploding almost simultaneously.

    This oue was not surprising at all.

    -

    Suspended under a parachute, Chen Fei was frantically buying in the system''s Skill Shop.

    He just couldn''t believe it, why is theser so difficult to get?

    Maic Field Management Component: 100 Energy Points (generates maic force, prity reversal)

    Isn''t it just 100 energy points?

    Buy!~

    Energy Points: 697/5000

    Maic Field Management Component | Impossible cking Super Capacitor)

    Super Capacitor (upgradable): 500 energy points | power storage time no more than 24 hours

    (*£þ¦ä£þ)

    Keep going, today I''m going all-out on spending, won''t stop until it''s all gone.

    Energy Points: 197/5000

    Super Capacitor Level 1 (next level needs 100 energy points) | power storage time no more than 24 hours | not usable cks power management module)

    The next required power management module came in two types: one was "DC Power Management Module: 500 energy points"; the other was "AC Power Management Module: 500 energy points".

    It waspletely uncertain which one it was.

    If right, it would only cost 500 energy points, if wrong, it would require a thousand energy points.

    Now with only 197 energy points in hand, where to get the missing 303?

    (£þÃó£þ) Can I no longer y happily?!

    Dammit!

    With a thud, the wobbly parachute finally touched the ground, with a butt-back, sand-grousending style.

    Thankfully he was still sitting in the airne seat, not directly hitting his butt on a rock.

    System: Ding! For surviving in the wild for 72 hours, you gain +500 energy points!

    ~(£þ¦Ø£þ)~* This dog system is actually quite cute!

    In the wilderness, stones tumbled, one after another grotesque figure pushed aside the gravel to emerge from the ground, theirpound eyes gleaming with a dark red light.

    Hearing themotion, Chen Fei turned his head in confusion and suddenly drew a sharp breath.

    Just a dozen meters away, those dense dark red pupils and ghastly figures¡­

    To seek riches and honor, they want his life for just 500 energy points.

    Dog system, you and I are irreconcble!

    "Help!!!"

    He nearly forgot that the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was always rife with roaming Magical Beasts and Mutants leftover from the massive war thirty years ago.

    Some crafty Mutants hide in the unpopted mountains and countlessplicated caves, and even deep underground. Aircrew bases around the world existed to eliminate these threats.

    Several aircrew bases fought each other bitterly but neglected these dangerous creatures that could usually be easily subdued.

    Chen Fei identally fell right into a monster''sir.

    -

    Three dayster, a shaky Chen Fei appeared at the Patan Elementary School gate run by Teacher Shen Fei, in a sorry state that scared the children just getting out of ss into a shrieking frenzy before they ran back into the ssroom.

    Running over with a Type 95 automatic rifle, Teacher Shen recognized Chen Fei and eximed in surprise, "Chen, Chen Fei, what are you doing here?"

    A strange stench hit her, causing her to frown deeply.

    "It''s a long story, got any food?"

    Chen Fei leaned on the white steel crowbar, weakly shaking his head.

    State: Larval Form

    Physical Energy: 1/12

    Burst Strength: 13/60

    Fullness: 1%

    Active time: 3 hours

    Energy Points: 697/5000

    "Yes..."

    Teacher Shen slowly nodded her head.

    ...

    The soft and fluffy whole wheat toast bread, one pound each, wrapped with freshly roasted mutton, was devoured by Chen Fei in one go ¨C he downed five of them, leaving Teacher Shen Fei absolutely gobsmacked. He wasn''t going to burst from eating so much, was he?

    After guzzling down some cool boiled water, Chen Fei wiped his mouth and finally said with satisfaction, "I''m finally saved! *Belch!* Full!"

    This guy made up for three days'' worth of skipped meals in one sitting.

    "Where have you been these past few days?"

    Teacher Shen Fei thought back to the massive aerialbat she had witnessed a few days ago, so fierce it was beyond imagination.

    Missiles darting across the sky, fireballs filling the entire heavens, the roar of engines as if they were right by one''s side, ceaseless and relentless.

    One after another, thebat airnes were shot down, plummeting to the ground with thick smoke trailing behind, or even exploding into pieces, turning into a rainstorm of fire.

    The few parachutes that managed to safelynd were very scant; many more were doomed along with their nes before they could even eject.

    "The Merman Brothers Consortium and Apocalypse Defense Group started a corporate war. Apocalypse Defense took several hits and chickened out. The Aircrew Base 911 didn''t chicken out, got besieged by several neighboring aircrew bases, and three days ago, we all got into a big fight, uh, I got shot down."

    As he digested his food, Chen Fei finally recovered some energy. He lowered his head to smell himself, showing an expression of disgust, and continued, "Where Inded, I encountered a pack of mutants, and then had another fight. This smell is unbearable; I can''t even wash it off."

    The mutants he encountered were a group of insects. It took at least two hits with the white steel crowbar to smash their carapaces.

    The insects'' colorful body fluids and viscera not only had a lingering odd smell but were also somewhat corrosive, having eaten away at Chen Fei''s clothes until they were tattered and worn.

    It wasn''t until the following day that he had decimated over a thousand of these mutated insects, swinging the crowbar countless times. Yet to the swarming insect horde emerging from the ground, this was still just a small fraction; the number of these mutants was frighteninglyrge.

    In the end, it wasn''t that Chen Fei hadpletely exterminated these mutants, but rather they realized they had encountered a tough and ruthless opponent, and a huge mass burrowed back into the ground, disappearing without a trace.

    Once he finally got away, Chen Fei found a water source and forcefully rinsed for several hours, yet he was unable to wash off the stench clinging to him.

    "Mutants have appeared again?"

    Teacher Shen Fei couldn''t help but worry.

    This mountain school and the nearby Patan Vige had never been threatened by magical beasts and mutants roaming in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, all thanks to the round-the-clock patrols by Aircrew Base 911.

    Any slight hint of these creatures was met with turboprop aircraft from Aircrew Base 911 operating under the principle of ''better to kill wrongly than to let one go''; they would pursue to the bitter end, never skimping on ammunition.

    Compared to saving a bit of cost, letting discovered beasts and mutants run amok could affect the entire base''s annual contract and bonus money ¨C that was a substantial amount of cash. The military contractors of the contracted base were counting on this money as a base sry, so not a penny could be lost.

    "Yes, that''s right. Oh, I need to borrow a phone."

    Chen Fei pped his forehead, finally remembering to report the situation about encountering a mutant species to the base promptly.

    His phone was still at the aircrew base, and themunication equipment he had ejected with was eaten by those insects.

    Such a sturdy aircraft seat, once wrapped in the jaws of the mutant insects, was immediately crushed into pieces, chewed uppletely, not even sparing the parachute. These insects would eat anything.

    "No problem!"

    Teacher Shen Fei hurriedly took out her phone, logged out of her personal ount, and handed it over.

    Chen Fei signed into his own ount and found Manager Hanna''s number, then dialed it.

    Thanks to dragging the WIFI signal all the way from Aircrew Base 911, the nearest antenna dish was aimed directly at the school, with full signal strength, making phone calls a breeze.

    "Chen Fei, where are you? Are you back?"

    Manager Hanna Gagel was both shocked and ted when Chen Fei, who had been missing for three days, suddenly called.

    After an unprecedented aerial battle three days ago, only three aircraft from the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron returned intact; three pilots died in action, the others were shot down, four pilots critically wounded, two pilots lightly wounded, three pilotsnded safely, and one pilot went missing.

    The missing person was Chen Fei. Aircrew Base 911 had dispatched sixrge tricycles to search the area where the signal was lost for two days without finding so much as a hair.

    Just when everyone thought that this rookie was truly done for, Chen Fei managed to call back. Where on earth had this guy run off to?

    "No, I''m at Teacher Shen Fei''s school; there''s a situation I need to report."

    Chen Fei certainly understood the anxious tone in the executive manager''s voice.

    The aircrew base must have been frantically searching for him, and if he didn''t make this call soon, he reckoned that his personal ident insurance and war pension would be processed.

    "Alright, go ahead!"

    Hanna Gagel immediately regained herposure.

    Rookie Chen Fei''s safety meant that Aircrew Base 911 had regained abat pilot.

    "I''ve discovered..."

    ...

    -

 Chapter 129: Section 129 - Base Collapse

    After finishing the call with the female executive manager inside the Aircrew Base 911, Chen Fei''s face turned grave as he put down the phone and logged out of his personal ount, handing the phone back to Teacher Shen Fei.

    "What happened?"

    Shen Fei noticed the change in Chen Fei''s emotions.

    "The mutant colony broke through Aircrew Base 912 and ate everyone," Chen Fei nced at the Patan Elementary School children ying in the yard and said, "they ate everyone."

    "What?"

    Shen Fei felt her hair stand on end.

    The destruction of an aircrew base and theplete consumption of everyone there was an unimaginable, horrifying scene.

    Compared to the cross-species invasion of Cangqiong Star''s magical beasts, the threat of mutants was even greater, currently the No. 1 biological disaster on Blue Star.

    Although the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area now is full of deste mountains and scattered natural viges, thinly popted and underdeveloped,gging far behind the timespared to the civilized society outside, it seems to still be stuck three or four decades in the past.

    But thirty years ago, it was broad and even flourishing for a time.

    The most famous of these was Gem Valley. At its peak, it was arge town with nearly one hundred thousand people, incorporating agriculture, livestock farming, mining, light industry, heavy industry, and even very advanced electronic technology. Despite being small, it had everything necessary, itcked nothing. However, it was suddenly struck by a mutant disaster, triggering a massive retreat.

    After everyone was forced to leave, thepletely deste Gem Valley now only showcased a post-apocalyptic scene of ruins, with only asional film crewsing to shoot scenes. It has never recovered its former glory.

    Mutants born from nuclear radiation erupted several times, and it was not easy topletely eliminate them, especially the long-term cost of cleanup that would give any sovereign nation a headache, a big effort for a small return.

    Therefore, those few and far between mutants that asionally popped up were left to the newly emerged Private Military Contractors, establishing awork of bases around the world, patrolling routinely, and regrly exterminating them, keeping the mutant poptions in check so that, over time, they would naturally dissipate.

    The mutants had always been the target of clean-up, never before had there been a counterattack on an aircrew base; not only was it unheard of, but it was also shocking to hear.

    "It must have been ack of manpower that allowed them to prate our defenses,"

    Chen Fei picked up his White Steel Crowbar and weighed it in his hand,paring it mentally.

    One strike from him wasparable to a close-range light weapon''s shot, which would require two hits to prate armor, meaning that light weapons were hard pressed to be effectively suppressive.

    In a sudden attack, an aircrew base that had lost its airborne strength would indeed find it difficult to withstand the overwhelming assault of the mutant worm swarm, like a tidal wave.

    Fortunately, that swarm of insects was headed in the direction of Aircrew Base 912.

    Both Aircrew Base 911 and Teacher Shen Fei''s school were still safe, but they could not afford to be negligent; it was best to deal with this sudden emergence of a mutant worm swarm sooner rather thanter.

    Not long after speaking with Manager Hanna, arge tricycle flyer arrived near the school, coincidentallynding where Chen Fei had first touched down.

    This time, he boarded the rudimentary flying vehicle to return to Aircrew Base 911.

    As soon as he returned to the base, he arrived just in time for the farewell ceremony of the fallenrades.

    The sound of gunfire rose again, and mes soared.

    Aircrew Base 911 had lost three pilots and two security personnel, one of whom had just recently arrived at the base.

    The five bodies were quickly consumed by the mes, and their ashes and remains would be sent to their families at an opportune moment, along with a substantial sum of personal ident and warpensation money.

    "My grandson Jun, woo hoo, oh oh oh! You must wait for me¡­"

    Next to a burning body, Yamada Yuhu cried bitterly, banging his head on the ground.

    People are not emotionless like nts; after partnering for six or seven years and being fellow vigers, more than just colleagues, they were friends and close allies.

    They had originally nned to meet in the afterlife, but now although theirughter and looks remained, they were separated by life and death, causing deep anguish for Mr. Yamada as he knelt by the gradually ashing remnants of the body, emotionally shattered, unable to contain himself.

    "Damn it, this reminds me of ''Lemongrass'' that sissy!"

    Yamada Yuhu''s cries affected the emotions of Squadron Leader Chekhov, who wiped at the corner of his eye, flicking away a tear.

    "It''s a pity for the team of ''Scallion Oil'' and ''Cinnamon Powder,'' the 216''s pilot is gone for good."

    Squadron Deputy Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios suddenly spotted Chen Fei standing behind the crowd, rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn''t hallucinating, and quickly walked over, looking him up and down and said in a grumpy tone, "Rookie, are you now a person or a ghost?"

    Irinei Rusios was a short-haired girl, small in stature, yet very fierce, making Chen Fei feel quite anxious.

    "Of course, I''m a person, Deputy Leader!"

    Though Irinei Rusios seemed angry, she actually expressed concern as she said, "Where have you been thesest few days? Why didn''t you just stay put and wait for rescue? Do you know that everyone was worried about you?"

    Inside Aircrew Base 911, those concerned about Chen Fei''s disappearance were not limited to Manager Hanna and the maintenance chief Xiao Ming, but also therades from Squadron "Genuine Fragrance."

    "Haha, just had a little ident!"

    Chen Fei chuckled, "Only a fool would stay in one ce waiting for rescue. Are those 500 energy points that easy to earn?"

    He was afraid that the mutant worm swarm that had tangled with him all morning and through the night might suddenly turn around and charge back. He figured he would die of exhaustion, so of course, running away was his top priority.

    "I''m waiting for your report, no less than three thousand words!"

    Devil Pepper raised his hand and pointed at Chen Fei.

    For a moment, the rookie felt as if he had seen a devil himself.

    He had swung his crowbar thousands of times, and now he had to write three thousand words. Did they think he was writing a novel?

    At most three hundred, no more!

    "Rookie!"

    Manager Hanna timely intervened on behalf of Chen Fei and snapped her fingers at him, beckoning him over.

    Chen Fei promptly followed her and they made their way to the executive office.

    "What''s that strange smell on you?"

    Sitting in the executive chair, the female executive manager sniffed the air, a puzzled look on her face as she turned towards Chen Fei.

    The moment this kid entered the office, the air was filled with a strange scent. It smelled like jasmine flowers, yet it was mixed with an indescribable odd vor.

    Chen Fei helplessly said, "Mutant insect fluid and the scent of floral water."

    The insect fluid naturally came from when he smashed the bugs with his crowbar. The floral water was contributed by Teacher Shen Fei. Mixed together, although the smell was a bit odd, it was much better than before.

    "You should wash upter, use more scented soap!"

    Manager Hanna took out a small perfume bottle from her drawer, sprayed it a few times into the air, and felt slightly better afterward.

    Then she took out a bottle of wine and two wine sses from under her desk, poured them full, and pushed one ss towards Chen Fei, signaling him.

    "It''ll probably take a week to get rid of the smell, thanks!"

    Chen Fei watched as the female executive manager filled the sses and then nodded, unceremoniously picking up his wine ss.

    Drinking buddies are strangers at first but soon familiar.

    He sipped lightly, savored the taste, and said, "The wine is rich, very rich."

    "It''s Bordeaux dry red,st year''s new wine, irradiated with nuclear radiation for half a year. It tastes like it''s four or five years aged. Hmm, take a look at this!"

    Hanna Gagar wasn''t very satisfied. This was just a consumer-grade wine. She took out a tablet, swiped it a few times, and handed it to Chen Fei.

    Irradiating with nuclear radiation, of course, would not mutate the wine or contaminate it with radiation; it only elerated the aging process. However, the subtle changes in taste brought about by this type of aging were limited; it wasn''t like one could catalyze a century-old wine quality just by irradiation. A connoisseur could still detect a slight imbnce in taste.

    The best method is still to let time do its job. Slow, natural aging is the best way.

    Shortcuts like nuclear radiation are ultimately too eager for quick results.

    "This is..."

    Chen Fei saw the video that Manager Hanna swiped up on the tablet.

    There appeared on the screen mutant insects he was familiar with, not just one type. He had hammered at least four types of insects with his crowbar, some with bigtches, some with super thick shells, some covered in spikes that moved as fast as flying, and another kind that actually could fly.

    These insects swarmed into a base like a tide, and the crisscrossing web of fire and explosions, while fierce, were like pebbles thrown into a pond, causing only ripples that were quickly swallowed by the tide of insects.

    At least ten thousand insects surged in one push and upied the entire base. Many people didn''t even have time to run,cking even the capacity to resist, and disappeared into the mouths of these insects,

    Even hiding in the underground air-raid shelters was useless. The insects somehow dug into the shelters, driving or dragging people out to feast on them. In the end, not a single living person was left in the entire base, inside or out.

    The video footage, derived from various cameras and edited, disyed from multiple angles the entire downfall of the 912 Aircrew Base.

    After the video ended, Chen Fei watched it again before putting down the tablet, sighing deeply, "912 is really unlucky."

    All the base''s fighters had taken off, but they werepletely defeated in the battle against the 911 Aircrew Base. Bereft of air power, the 912 Aircrew Base, relying only on its meager ground fire, was utterly incapable of resisting such a frenzied surge of insects.

    If they had had two fighter jets, or even just one equipped with arge-caliber incendiary bomb or cluster bomblet, they wouldn''t have fallen so quickly and could have inflicted heavy damage on the swarm.

    "Now, with only nine pilots and five fighter jets left at 911, is there any way to stop these insects?"

    Seeing so many insects, Hanna Gagar was quite nervous. She decided to probe Chen Fei''s opinion, as he was a team member of "Genuine Fragrance" and had also dealt with those insects.

    -

 Chapter 130: Section 130 - Biological Samples

    The area overrun by the mutant worm swarm now only had the Aircrew Base 911 still capable ofunching assaults. The four surrounding bases were destroyed, one of which was overtaken with no survivors.

    Therefore, the responsibility to eradicate the mutant fell squarely on the shoulders of Aircrew Base 911. Corporate wars were corporate wars, but the essential duty couldn''t be forgotten¡ªit was a matter of principle and righteousness.

    Chen Fei reminded, "There are still eight gyrones left!"

    After scavenging a bargain at Aircrew Base 909 andbining it with their own inventory at Aircrew Base 911, even if they couldn''t assemble more ''Big Mouth Monster'' turboprop aircraft, cobbling together a few ''tricycles'' posed no issues at all.

    The only issue was that ''tricycles'' had rtively lower defense, slower flight speed, less agility, and less carrying capacitypared to turboprop aircraft, but the basic transport ability was still sufficient. They could be equipped like armed helicopters, hanging two 12.7 mm caliber machine guns and either two rocket nests or two 100 kg ss aerial bombs on each side without any problem.

    Even though there were flying species among the mutant worm swarm, no matter how fast they flew, they couldn''t catch up with the gyrones, as in nature, creatures capable of flying faster than 300 kilometers per hour were exceedingly rare¡ªsuch experts of flight were the product of thousands of years of natural selection and evolution, with the chances of mutations induced by nuclear radiation being minuscule.

    So these gyrones cobbled together by Aircrew Base 911, were quite suitable for hit-and-run harassment missions where they drop bombs or fire a few shots and then scoot.

    The current count of eight gyrones was just right; any more would be uneconomical, especially since the engines used in gyrones constituted the major costponent.

    After some thought, Chen Fei then said, "It would be best to request two ''Dragon yer Missiles'' and a high-yield Ground-Prating Thermobaric Bomb."

    Known as the ''Dragon yer Missile,'' the KDK-1 air-breathing hypersonic smart missile could rival a mini-nuclear weapon, not just for killing dragons, but also for wiping out other targets with ease.

    The Ground-Prating Thermobaric Bomb was also extremely effective¡ªworking in tandem with the ''Dragon yer Missile,'' the former handling underground targets, and thetter taking care of the surface.

    "Is it really necessary?"

    Upon hearing ''Dragon yer Missile,'' the female executive manager couldn''t help but feel her scalp tingle.

    The current plight of Aircrew Base 911, along with the parentpany Apocalypse Defense Group, if traced back to its roots, had to me Chen Fei''s rash actions¡ªa ''Dragon yer Missile'' had almost led them to mutual annihtion, subsequently drawing the attention of industry giants among the top ten.

    Now amidst the chaos, Apocalypse Defense Group and Aircrew Base 911 were significantly weakened, and even the Merman Brothers Consortium probably had to swallow a bitter pill¡ªthe corporate war was bloody and costly. What was expected to be an easy grab turned into handling a porcupine.

    The surfacing of a mutant worm swarm now added numerous unpredictable factors to this undecided corporate conflict.

    "Better safe than sorry!"

    Chen Fei was merely providing a suggestion to Manager Hanna, which was all the help he could offer, before contentedly savoring the cup of entry-level dry red wine in his hand.

    The wine, enjoyable enough for personal amusement, could perhaps also be used to stew some beef.

    Teacher Shen Fei''s school was temporarily closed, and nearby viges were nning to cluster together for self-protection while pooling resources to buy high-powered weapons like grenades, explosives,rge-caliber machine guns, small-caliber rockets, and mortars to safeguard everyone''s safety in case of an attack by the mutant worm swarm ¡ª if so, they could at least hold out for a while.

    In the end, any hope for rescue would still depend on Aircrew Base 911, as that''s precisely what air bases are meant for.

    "I''ll handle the ''Dragon yer Missile'' issue. Do you have any biological samples of those mutants?"

    The headache-inducing responsibility of dealing with the ''Dragon yer Missile'' used previously had stemmed from authorization provided by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, whose sources traced back to the Sky Dragon City of Cangqiong Star.

    The current Dragon King of the Dragon Race was exceptionally resolute and ruthless, mercilessly dealing with his own kind if they stepped out of line.

    Otherwise, who would dare to lightly deploy a ''Dragon yer Missile'' against a giant dragon, risking a long life for themselves?

    Giant dragons were not like those mutants or weaker magical beasts that could only endure modern firearms without being able to retaliate¡ªif they got really angry, few sovereign nations could withstand their wrath.

    "It seems so!"

    Chen Fei thought for a moment, rummaged through his belongings, and pulled out an irregrly shaped, fingernail-sized piece, cing it on the table. "This is a piece of shell, very hard."

    Using a white steel crowbar, he had taken several hours to crack it. The fragment flew into his shirt cor and chafed him all night long; the swarm of insects subsided before he finally fished it out from his clothes.

    "I''ll take it for a biological identification to see which mutant branch it belongs to."

    Manager Hanna Gagel downed her ss of wine, pulled out a transparent evidence bag, and ced the shell fragment inside.

    Aircrew Base 911 had a professional biologicalboratory for identifying mutants and magical beasts, submitting biological data to the Global United Defense Committee to monitor the evolutionary state of hazardous creatures.

    "Then I''ll be leaving first."

    Chen Fei also toasted.

    Manager Hanna Gagel, with no intention of rising to see him off, called after Chen Fei''s departing figure, "The manufacturers of the Energy Tower will soon send someone over to start it up; you''re in charge of coordinating that."

    Chen Fei didn''t turn back but simply made an OK gesture to show he understood.

    With Old Master Barut gone, the task of guarding the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower naturally fell to him, which, fortunately, didn''t conflict much with his regr duties with the mechanics crew and his part-time job with the ''Genuine Fragrance'' squadron.

    After Chen Fei left, Hanna Gagel examined the mutant biological tissue fragment inside the transparent evidence bag, then dialed a number.

    "I have a biological sample here that needs to be tested."

    A momentter, one of the manager''s subordinates arrived in the office to collect the biological sample.

    "Chen Fei, I thought you were gone!"

    Chef Abel heartily greeted him as he saw Chen Feie to pick up his bird.

    "Chirp!" Little Bird pped its wings and flew over,nding on Daddy''s shoulder, affectionately chirping incessantly.

    This little guy doesn''t need any looking after at all.

    "Has he been good these past few days?"

    Chen Fei tapped the Pure Light Sparrow''s little head with his finger.

    "Chirp chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu yfully pecked at his finger.

    Nearly turning into a bird nanny, Chef Abel answered for the little fellow, "Good, of course good, extremely well-behaved!"

    Chen Fei said gratefully, "You''ve had it tough again, Mr. Abel!"

    "Oh not at all, it''s nothing, I really like this little guy, he''s really well-behaved, not hard to take care of at all."

    Chef Abel rubbed his hands together, clearly very happy, and suddenly as if he had remembered something, he quickly said, "The pickled eggs you made are ready. I cooked two of them, and they taste particrly amazing."

    With that, he immediately gave a thumbs up. The sight of the golden, oily egg yolks was enough to make anyone salivate, perfect to pair with staple foods.

    "Then I will take a few to try."

    Chen Fei nodded his head. Making salted duck eggs didn''t involve much skill; it was either soaking them in strong brine or packing them in a salty mud paste. Either way, salt was indispensable.

    "No problem, do you want them steamed? I have a vacuum sealing machine here. I can cook several at once, vacuum seal them, and they will keep for at least three months. How many do you want?"

    Chef Abel picked out properly pickled eggs from a ss jar full of strong brine and eggs.

    While ying with the little bird, Chen Fei said, "Start with fifty!"

    "Eh! You''re going to eat them as meals?"

    Chef Abel stopped and looked over, puzzled.

    Fifty salted duck eggs, how could you eat them every day without getting sick of them?

    "To give away!"

    "Got it."

    No need to pick anymore, exactly fifty in a jar¡ªlet everyone have a taste.

    Twenty minutester, fifty salted duck eggs were steamed. To avoid cracking them during steaming, the initial heat increase was quite slow. Only after reaching 75 degrees Celsius did the heating speed up. Once out of the steamer, they were immediately vacuum-sealed while still hot, and then sterilized with UV light.

    The kitchen was fully equipped, even having the tools for canning and bottling.

    After returning to Xiao Jiu''s nest, having not seen it for three days, Chen Fei suddenly felt like the magical beast crystal core inside had shrunk a bit. With a trace of uncertainty, he weighed it using the kitchen scale and indeed, it was 27.32 grams lighter.

    Then he ced Xiao Jiu on the scale, and sure enough, it had grown, gaining about fifty grams.

    Chef Abel really treated Xiao Jiu like his own precious treasure, pampering it with good food and drink¡ªit was bound to gain weight!

    Time to diet!

    Chirp?

    After distributing the steamed eggs, it was fortunate he had steamed fifty; otherwise, there wouldn''t have been enough to go around.

    Big Brother Xiao and the mechanics of the mechanic group, the pilots of Genuine Fragrance squadron, and the old soldiers who had been out adventuring with him for several days each received two salted duck eggs to sample. He also reserved four eggs for Teacher Shen Fei, nning to deliver them in theing days when he had a chance, conveniently using therge tricycle.

    Nowadays, though the Aircrew Base had a few fewer Big Mouth Monsters, it had gained eightrge tricycles. The workload hadn''t decreased at all, and only after it was dark did Chen Fei finish his work. Now also half a mechanic, Division Chief Xiao Ming''s stress was significantly relieved.

    The other mechanics looked at Chen Fei with a little more recognition in their eyes; this rookie neer was finally not just a freeloader and could somewhat contribute.

    Returning to the shed drenched in sweat, Xiao Jiu immediately flew out of the nest he had brought back, fluttering among the nts, pecking here and there.

    Due to insufficient light, the nts inside the shed were somewhat wilted, no longer as vibrant as before, and despite Chen Fei''s care, a number had inevitably died off, not as lush as before, leaving the shed feeling a lot emptier.

    Knock knock!

    The familiar knocking rhythm.

    "Come in, Manager Hanna."

    Chen Fei didn''t need to turn around to know this drinking buddy hade over again.

    "I brought some snacks to have with drinks."

    The executive manager carried a bottle of alcohol in one hand and lifted abined meal box with the other.

    The shed where the Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower was located had evidently be her secret spot to drink and relieve stress.

    -

 Chapter 131: Section 131 - Artificial Mutant

    Chef Singh was on duty this evening. He was known for his cleanliness habits, and although his cooking skills weren''t anything remarkable, handling simple tasks like unpacking frozen food meant, taste aside, at least there was no worry about food poisoning.

    The snacks for pairing with drinks that Hanna Gagel could find were limited to cured meats, ham slices, sausages, and at best some curry pancakes. Having Chef Singh to actually cook was really asking a lot of him.

    However, why was the curry pancake served with a mild chili sauce from Old Godmother instead of the traditional lentil sauce?

    The reason was that the lentil sauce had been eaten up.

    Who ate it?

    Do you even need to ask that damn question?!

    Chen Fei saw the salted duck eggs in the meal box, exactly two, one for each person¡ªalmost forgetting that they were also particrly suitable as a snack with drinks.

    He smiled slightly, pretending to know nothing, naturally took the cups from inside the hut, and also brought out a bottle of fruit wine. Since they were drinking buddies, it was only right to share.

    Unfortunately, although the fruit wine had excellent vor, it had a short shelf life and could turn sour if not consumed in time. What couldn''t be drunk would have to be distilled into strong liquor to be preserved longer. After vtilization, the vor and taste would degrade significantly, and one could only say it was passable.

    "The biologyb tested the biological samples you brought back this afternoon. Guess what the results were?"

    When ying the role of drinkingpanion with Chen Fei, Hanna Gagel wouldpletely cast aside her executive persona, speaking as if she were chatting with a friend.

    "Could it be alien lifeforms?"

    Chen Fei picked up his ss and took a light sniff.

    The wine Hanna brought over this evening was much better than the dry red Chekhov had brought during the day. The wine was clear and well-rounded, going down like a bead clear through to the core, very smoothly into the stomach.

    Such quality undoubtedly came at a price.

    The drinks that the female executive manager brought over each time were far beyond what Chen Fei could afford on his sry. Some were so expensive that a single sip would cost him a month''s hard work, truly an immense indulgence.

    But since there was good wine to mooch for free, he naturally was happy to be a close-mouthed and attentive listener type of drinking buddy, opening up for a pleasurable chat. Wasn''t that delightful?!

    Someone like Chekhov Big Bear, who only knew to clutch onto the Blue Star Er Guotou and guzzle until he was wasted,cked any sense of refinement. He was only fit to be a drunkard, not a suitable drinking buddy.

    "Hahaha, alien lifeforms? Hahaha, you''re way off there!"

    In Chen Fei''s presence, Hanna Gagar became even more uninhibited, shaking her head andughing heartily with a p on the small round table.

    Gone was her usual frosty demeanor that warned strangers to stay away, and that sour face as if everyone owed her three hundred taels of silver.

    "Did you find anything?"

    Chen Fei picked up his chopsticks and poked at a slice of cured beef tongue; the reheated cured meat had a fairly standard texture.

    "Of course we did, and it''s a huge discovery!" Hanna Gagelughed merrily for a while before continuing, "Gic sequencing revealed traces of artificial editing. The mutant worm swarm you encountered was not entirely the result of natural mutation. It might be a creature artificially meddled with."

    "You mean, someone is messing around, it''s man-made?"

    Chen Fei was about to poke a second slice of beef tongue, but his movement froze, looking at the executive manager with disbelief.

    This was indeed a monumental discovery.

    Who would dare concoct such outrageous schemes, artificially creating mutant creatures, as if Blue Star didn''t have enough troubles already?

    Hanna Gagel gradually stoppedughing, downing the wine in her ss with a sigh, and letting out a sneerden with mocking sarcasm.

    "Heh, whether it''s man-made or not, what the hell does that have to do with me!"

    Normally, she would never utter such words, instead standing on the moral high ground, righteously denouncing those inhumane plots and tricks.

    Right now, however, it was just Manager Hanna''s "drunken babble," she was just tipsy, not out of her mind.

    When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.

    Once the report of anomalies discovered in the mutant''s gic sequence was submitted to the Global United Defense Committee, the ones who should be worried were not her and Aircrew Base 911, but those big shots above.

    911 Aircrew Base just needed to stick to its duties, continuing the routine patrols, searching for, and eliminating those mutants. That was the end of it.

    Who cares whether those mutant creatures mutated naturally or were artificially bred?

    Thinking so much won''t earn you any Silver!

    Is the survival of humankind really supposed to hinge on a small aircrew base, as if everyone else had long since perished?

    "Shouldn''t they have been spawned by nuclear radiation?"

    Chen Fei nearly forgot about his drinking and the dishes on the table, the more he pondered, the more he felt a chill down his spine. The truth was damn scary¡ªif he hadn''t brought back that mutant carapace fragment, he might have been kept in the dark forever.

    It wasmon knowledge that the appearance of mutants wasrgely due to the great war from thirty years ago, which left its scars. The Blue Star humans had no choice but to use Nuclear Weapons, and they had to do so extensively, nearly leading to Mutual Annihtion with the Third Era Civilization. The entire''s ecological bnce had suffered immense damage.

    Once, a nuclear power station malfunctioned, causing a leak that led to constant mutations in the surrounding wildlife for nearly a century. Rats had grownrger than pigs and were everywhere, nearly bing a gue. With so much nuclear radiation dispersing after the war, the scale of the mutation disaster had be even more terrifying.

    If not regrly cleared, it could easily be a threat to human society.

    Nowadays, there wasn''t even time to clear them up, yet some people were still intent on adding insult to injury by artificially breeding mutant creatures. It was hard to fathom what they were thinking. Did they have holes in their brains?

    "Whatever their origin, we''ve got no business worrying about it. Tomorrow morning, you''ll first help with igniting the Energy Tower, and in the afternoon, join me in investigating the hideout of those mutants, which is where younded after beingunched,"

    the executive manager had already made up her mind and gave Chen Fei a heads-up in advance.

    "Sure, I got it!"

    Chen Fei nodded in agreement. He wasn''t some big shot; he just happened to possess the ability the base needed.

    Conducting an on-site investigation at the ce where the mutants first appeared carried significant risks. With two supernatural power users present, their safety would be somewhat assured.

    After talking business, it was time forints.

    Hanna Gagel ranted about the rotten mess that was the Apocalypse Defense Group¡ªthe infighting management team, the self-serving board of directors, and the shareholders with their ulterior motives that had turned what was once a powerful military contractor into a nervous wreck with plummetingbat effectiveness, a loose heap of sand. It was incredibly frustrating.

    The abandoned Aircrew Base 911 had annihted the invaders from four other aircrew bases, and now the once-avoided Apocalypse Defense Group was eyeing to reap the benefits.

    Disappointed with the Apocalypse Defense Group, Manager Hanna was starting to n using her inherited shares as leverage to separate Aircrew Base 911 from the group and establish an independent, small military contractor.

    Even though it meant a fall from a once lofty position of arge military contractor to thest-ranked small military contractor, it was better to be a big fish in a small pond than to be dragged down by others.

    This matter was still secretly being nned, and Hanna Gagel hadn''t told anyone, not even Chen Fei.

    In the midst ofughter andints, the bottle was emptied and the dishes were polished off.

    The executive manager didn''t linger around Chen Fei anymore, gave a sign and staggered away by herself.

    -

    Early in the morning, a small jet ne descended from the sky,nding on the runway of Aircrew Base 911, bringing engineers from the authorized manufacturer of Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower to assist with the reactivation of the Energy Tower.

    Before this, citing the wartime corporate struggles and the inability to ensure safety, the manufacturer had refused to send personnel. Only now that the corporate war between the Apocalypse Defense and the Merman Brothers Consortium had temporarily ceased, with neither side having the energy to fight again, did they begrudgingly send an engineer.

    The engineer, surnamed Ye, had one-quarter Neanderthal tribe ancestry, was quiet, and the type not to let out a fart with three sticks¡ªa typical ''engineer-type'' who didn''t have any care for the whimsical things in life. He only had three responses: nod, stare nkly, "fine."

    He brought two huge suitcases, one with the ignition device, and the other filled with spare parts, while testing equipment and tools were packed in his backpack. He hadn''t brought any personal life necessities or clothes for changing, clearly intending toe and leave on the same day, never nning to spend the night.

    Knowing the cause of the shutdown beforehand, after a quick check, Engineer Ye swiftly reced a few circuit boards, fuses, and disy screens. He connected room-temperature superconductive wires from the ignition device to the Energy Tower, sessfully activating the management system, opening the restraining force field, and capturing the one-time "Fire Seed" to start the preheat.

    The reaction modules slowly un-sheathed themselves automatically.

    The ignition process was as simple as lighting a gas stove. Hundreds of high-energy Laser Beams focused on the one-time "Fire Seed," instantaneously lighting up the entire interior of the Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower.

    The focal point within the cube reached temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, as the vtile gaseous fusion fuel released by the reaction modules was drawn by the gravitational field, gradually converging towards the focal point, creating a continuous fusion reaction.

    After releasing several seconds of high-energy Laser Beam, which vanished upon sessfullypleting its mission, the one-time "Fire Seed" also burned out, leaving no residue, turning into a wisp of smoke. The Energy Tower began to cycle efficiently, generating a constant stream of electric power.

    Once the switch was flipped, every corner of the aircrew base received abundant electricity, and all the halogenmps in the shacks lit up, once again returning to a warm andfortable environment like spring.

    Chen Fei, who was assigned to wee and assist, tried to invite Engineer Ye to stay for a meal before leaving, but the engineer shook his head firmly, packed up his belongings, dragged his suitcases back to the jet, and left the Aircrew Base 911 amidst thunderous roars.

    Their entire conversation hadn''t even exceeded twenty sentences.

    The thing the engineer talked most about was how to use the casting glue Chen Fei needed for filling bullet holes and instructions for patching up the outer shell, and that was about it.

    All the effort put into preparing a set of friendly scripts and delicious food and drinks ended up beingpletely unnecessary.

    -

 Chapter 132: Section 132 - Where are you running off to?

    One of the professional talents previously sent to his niece, an electronics expert and former shareholder of the Apocalypse Defense Group, McAllen Gager, had passed away and had equipped the revived Target Low Temperature Nuclear Fusion Energy Tower with a circuit protection system and enhanced the shielding at the core.

    Finally, they custom-made an all-epassing Faraday cage, encasing the entire Energy Tower within it, and providing thorough protection. These measures weakened sudden strong electromaic pulsesyer byyer, ensuring that the Energy Tower could continue to operate normally without automatically shutting down for self-protection.

    After regaining warmth and light, the many withered nts inside the shed immediately flourished at a visibly fast rate, much to the delight of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu.

    "Jiu..."

    -

    The crisp chirping swiftly crossed the sky, now east, then west, but always returning to perch on Chen Fei''s shoulder.

    Taken out on a rare asion, Xiao Jiu was extremely excited, as birds belong to the sky and flying freely is their nature.

    "There''s nothing here?"

    Executive manager Hanna Gager kicked the rocks scattered on the ground, within a kilometer around, not a de of grass grew.

    It was hard to imagine any kind of living creature surviving here.

    Chen Fei took her back to where they had first encountered the Mutant Worm Swarm, but found nothing, not even a burrow dug by the mutants despite digging three feet deep, as if they had never appeared.

    If it weren''t for the fact that Aircrew Base 912 to the east of 911 Aircrew Base had indeed been overrun by the Mutant Worm Swarm Chen Fei mentioned, the executive manager might have thought that this rookie pilot had hallucinations afternding, that no mutant species existed at all.

    Thump!~

    A muffled sound echoed.

    A cloud of dust rose in the distance, the ground shook slightly, and the ground wave spread far across the surface.

    Followed by another muffled sound from a different direction, micro-explosives buried thirty meters underground detonated sequentially, raising continuous clouds of dust.

    "We''ve made a discovery!"

    A technician stared intently at the screen in front of him.

    The rapidly spreading shockwaves quickly fed back the geological structure, creating a three-dimensional effect.

    Chen Fei and Hanna Gager hurried over to see a three-dimensional image of an underground structure.

    At a depth of over a hundred meters underground was a tunnel about ten meters in diameter, its actual length was immeasurable, just the part the shockwaves had identified was already more than five hundred meters long, and the extent to which it extended further was still unknown.

    Chen Fei looked at the increasinglyplete 3D image of the underground structure and couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath, saying, "My goodness, could this be a monster''s nest underground?"

    Executive manager snapped, "Don''t talk nonsense!"

    She said to the technician, "Measure a few more points to see if there are any signs of biological activity below."

    "Okay."

    The technician was also interested in the underground tunnel but could not determine whether this geological structure was naturally formed or excavated by the mutant species.

    The Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was mountainous and cavernous, withplex geological conditions; the actual situation underground was unknown, and the workload required to thoroughly explore it was far too great for any military contractor to afford.

    Professionals would handle professional matters, so they had to wait for the ground to be drilled and the micro-explosives ced, which would take some time.

    Out of sheer boredom, Chen Fei casually picked up a rock, weighed it in his hand, and was about to throw it with all his might to see how far it could go when he suddenly uttered a sound of surprise, retracted his strength, and brought the rock closer to inspect.

    He seemed to have discovered something, puzzled, he picked up another rock,pared the two, and his expression grew increasingly skeptical.

    "What are you looking at?"

    Hanna Gager noticed Chen Fei''s unusual behavior.

    "Look, there''s something strange about the surfaces of these two rocks."

    Chen Fei handed over the two rocks he had picked up.

    Hanna Gager nced at Chen Fei, took the rocks, andpared them, noting that the surfaces of the rocks had fine marks, and these marks formed very regr patterns.

    "This rock has it too, this one, and this one, they all have it!"

    Chen Fei squatted on the ground, rummaging through the rocks, picking up one after another for careful inspection.

    Then he walked a few steps farther and continued picking up rocks to examine.

    "These marks..."

    Hanna Gager also noticed as she followed along, picking up rocks to identify.

    Even moving quite a distance away, nearly every rock here had simr marks on its surface, even though the texture of the rocks varied greatly.

    Chen Fei eventually put down the rock in his hand, stopped picking others up, and said with certainty, "There''s definitely something wrong!"

    "You''re right!"

    Hanna Gager brought her camera, used the macro function to photograph the marks on the surfaces of these rocks.

    At the same time, she picked a few rocks as samples, to be taken back to 911 Aircrew Base for further identification and analysis.

    Half an hourter, there was another series of muffled thumps.

    The detection equipment captured more underground structural spaces, the tunnel extended a kilometer to the southeast, then began to branch into several smaller offshoots, stretching deeper underground.

    Shh shh shh shh¡­

    An unusual agitation suddenly appeared in the air.

    The technician monitoring the shockwave feedback suddenly started shouting.

    "There''s static, no, something is approaching."

    A veteran on nearby alert suddenlyy on the ground, tilted his head, and pressed his ear to the ground. After listening for a while, he quickly stood up, chambered a round with a tter, turned his head, and yelled at the female executive manager, "Five kilometers, arge number!"

    Retreat or not was solely up to the female executive manager.

    The apanying veterans instinctively made ready for battle, while the technicians hurriedly gathered their equipment and clustered together.

    Two gyrones taxied through the turbulence for a distance before taking off one after another, theirrge-caliber machine guns and rocket nests ready to fire.

    The tricycles aren''t picky about the terrain; any t surface will do. The evenness of the ground isn''t the most important aspect, at most it''s a bit painful on the buttocks. As long as the speed is sufficient, they can naturally take off smoothly, their adaptability is exceptionally strong.

    No wonder in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, the most important mechanical vehicles are not cars, but various homemade gyrones. The skillful mountain people could even assemble their own without needing specific aviation engines; there were basically no technical requirements.

    "Prepare to evacuate!"

    Manager Hanna made a decisive decision, after all, there were many people here, and she might not be able to take care of everyone.

    With hands slightly together, air currents surged, converging toward the center of her hands with a faint whistling sound.

    "I''ll be thest one!"

    Chen Fei extended his hand¡ªsworde!

    The Physics Holy Sword appeared in his hand the next moment.

    The White Steel Crowbar was the nemesis of those bugs. If one hit didn''t kill them, then two hits would. So far, there had been no bug that couldn''t be killed with up to five hits; two hits for armor pration, the third drove straight into the innards. No bug could withstand such treatment.

    A hundred meters away, the ground surged like waves, arching several feet as if something terrifying was rapidly approaching from underneath.

    Gugugugu...

    The machine guns mounted on therge gyrones spat out tongues of fire, streaks of red trajectories fired intensely, pummeling the wave of the earth repeatedly with crossfire.

    Then a series of rockets were fired, sting fireballs and debris into the air, and the dim outlines of some monstrous bugs were blown out, their pale exoskeletons covered their bodies and de-like limbs, each bug was the size of a young calf, snapping its mandibles, emitting a hoarse screech.

    It was those bugs!

    The scene of the fall of the Aircrew Base lingered vividly, and no one dared to underestimate these fierce, man-eating monsters.

    Everyone ran frantically toward the helicopters, the veterans following the female executive manager responsible for covering the rear, retreating orderly.

    Hanna Gagar pushed with both hands, a highly condensed ball of wind flew towards the rolling ground waves. The moment the two forces made contact, a tornado violently formed, swirling sand and stones, revealing the countless bugs in frightening numbers.

    Putu putu putu, slender-bodied bugs broke through the soil, suddenly opening their elytra, extending their slender hind wings, and emitting a deafening buzzing sound amidst intense vibration.

    "Son of a bitch! Come at me if you dare!"

    Chen Fei faced those bugs.

    He was not afraid of these ugly creatures; a crowbar was all he needed to dispatch them smoothly.

    Humm humm humm...

    The flying species of bugs that had taken to the airnded again, theirpound eyes focused on Chen Fei, and the rolling ground waves suddenly stilled.

    "Chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu, fearless as a calf in front of a tiger, perched on Chen Fei''s head and boldly chirped a few times, utterly unaware of what fear meant.

    As long as its father was there, nothing could scare it.

    Squeak squeak creak, a strange noise came through.

    The menacing bugs turned and burrowed back into the soil.

    "Huh?!"

    Chen Fei quickly reacted, rushing forward, swinging the White Steel Crowbar.

    All the bugs were frantically scraping at the soil and stones, burrowing into the ground.

    Chen Fei threw the crowbar aside, forcefully grabbed a bug''s leg, and desperately pulled it outward.

    He was still yelling, "Come back to me!"

    The female executive manager was also shouting upon seeing this scene.

    "Rookie,e back to me!"

    It seemed once again a familiar scene was unfolding.

    Acting recklessly!

    The irritated bug''s leg kicked out, sending Chen Fei sprawling on his rear, then it wriggled a few more times and burrowed underground, disappearing without a trace.

    "Come back,e back quickly!"

    Chen Fei picked up the crowbar again and fiercely dug into the ground, but aside from a pile of loose sand and stones, he found nothing else.

    The two gyrones circled overhead for a few moreps, but besides thepletely settled ground, no further sign of the bugs was visible.

    The technicians and veterans who had already climbed into the cabin of the Z-9 armed helicopter simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

    These abruptly appearing monsters not only arrived quickly but also left just as swiftly, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

    -

 Chapter 133: Section 133 - Another Type of Insect

    "Damn it! Let them escape again!"

    Chen Fei, frustrated, mmed his white steel crowbar on the ground, sending rock fragments flying. Underneath was only thick, sandy soil, not even a shadow of an insect to be seen.

    A sudden kick came flying, knocking him t on his face.

    "Have you got a death wish? Not running but instead chasing after them?"

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel kicked the distracted Chen Fei, flipping him over.

    With such a suicidal tactic, no wonder they say he''s died several times a month. Are you here to scam war pensions or what?

    The most annoying things are these presumptuous subordinates, no matter how many there are, they can''t withstand such foolishness!

    The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and kicked again.

    "Not at all! Those insects can''t take a hit. I killed so manyst night."

    Men shouldn''t fight with women, so Chen Fei could only cover his head and endure the beating.

    A few days ago, with a crowbar in hand, he had left a field of corpses.

    Yet, the achievements of a day and a night had vanished without a trace, and he couldn''t understand why!

    Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu flew over,nded on the ground, watched the interaction between the two, then finally realized something. It rushed towards the executive manager, chirping and attempting to peck at her, but it couldn''t even break through the airflow surrounding her and ended up spinning around instead.

    How muchbat power can a "Band-Aid" have?

    Light-element magical beasts at a low rank inherentlyckbat power, let alone a little bird.

    ¨r(*¨s¨Œ¨t*)¨q

    Might as wellpletely ignore it!

    "These insects¡­"

    Hanna Gagel looked at the messy ground in front of her as dust and gravel fell back to the ground, everything returning to normal as if nothing had happened.

    "There''s something fishy!"

    The old soldiers, tense and on edge, dared not rx their vignce.

    The ground churned slightly, not as loudly as before, and arge mass of ck insects appeared, burrowing in and out where the mutant worm swarm had disappeared.

    "More insects!"

    Chen Fei picked up the white steel crowbar and casually scratched at the sand, unearthing a dozen or so... ck and red insects?

    Fat and big-eared,cking wing cases; apart from heads, they were all belly, nearly three inches long, and just looking at them was repulsive.

    ncing as far as the eye could see, the ground was faintly visible with these insects moving around, and some of the shattered remains of mutants that had been hit by machine guns or rockets were crawling with these, dense and numerous, enough to trigger trypophobia, at least in the millions.

    "Seems like... rhinoceros cockroaches?!"

    The executive manager hurriedly picked out an insect with the tip of her boot, stepping lightly on it and examining it back and forth.

    Rhinoceros cockroaches, native to the tropical regions of Ocean Continent, feed on eucalyptus leaves, and most peculiarly, these creatures even possess a kind of intelligence.

    As most insects act on instinct or pheromones and can''t really be talked about in terms of intelligence.

    Yet this cockroach-like creature could even understand human speech, alien, right?

    "Indeed, they do look like rhinoceros cockroaches."

    The technician, who had returned to the ground from the helicopter, mustered up the courage, also examined an insect thoroughly.

    After thinking, he took out a ss jar from his backpack and carefully trapped one inside.

    Theoretically speaking, rhinoceros cockroaches are harmless, even more so than mealworms.

    "And they have very good teeth!"

    The executive manager frowned upon seeing some marks left on the surface of her high-end leather boots, simr to the faint marks she had seen on many rocks before.

    She began to realize that the marks on those rocks were mostly gnawed by these insects, thankfully she hadn''t rashly reached out to touch them.

    "Right! We must hurry back now, this, this jar won''t hold out for long."

    The technician, pale-faced, looked at the ss jar in his hand which now bore a ring-shaped mark gnawed by the insect inside. If it continued gnawing tirelessly, it might even burrow through the jar.

    He looked down and saw a few simr insects crawling around, which scared him into quickly stepping back several paces.

    If they can chew through ss and stone, let alone people.

    "Let''s head back first."

    Hanna Gagel made a decisive call without hesitation.

    She finally remembered Chen Fei''s words; the ejection seats and parachutes that had fallen here had vanished without a trace, most likely eaten by these insects.

    Probably not just those.

    For a moment, the executive manager felt more wary of these insects, resembling rhinoceros cockroaches, than the mutant worm swarm they had just encountered.

    The group quickly retreated to the Aircrew Base 911, and night fell soon after.

    No sooner had they returned to the base than Chen Fei''s phone began to ring.

    The caller ID showed Teacher Shen Fei, and one could almost guess the reason behind the call.

    "Chen Fei, you just got back?"

    Teacher Shen had already made several calls, but could never reach anyone.

    Fortunately, when she called the Aircrew Base again, she found out that Manager Hanna and Chen Fei had gone out together until it got dark before calling again.

    Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Yes, I just got back. Is there something you need, Teacher Shen?"

    Just then, Manager Hanna made a few hand signals at him.

    Drinks tonight, are you in?

    In!

    Chen Fei subtly nodded his head and walked towards his new residence at the Energy Tower.

    Little Bird was extremely tired, curling up inside his pocket and asionally chirping weakly, seemingly talking in its sleep.

    "By the way, how did your investigation go? Did you find any of those mutants?"

    Teacher Shen looked around, people of all ages were staring at her. Nobody dared to breathe too loudly, maintaining a deathly silence, not daring to interrupt her phone conversation with Chen Fei.

    Sheep and other livestock had been driven far away; one could only faintly hear some noises.

    Chen Fei was fortunate to have ryed thework signal all the way to a mountain area elementary school, leaving several sets of backup ry stations. Shen Fei and the mountaineers temporarily redirected the signal to a few viges where people crowded together for safety.

    "Yes! We indeed found those mutants. They are hiding deep underground and can use the Earth Escape Technique."

    Chen Fei thought and added, "In the areas where these mutants appear, there are many insects like Rhinoceros Cockroaches. You must be very careful!"

    Speaking of the Earth Escape Technique, Teacher Shen, being from the same hometown, would surely understand what that meant.

    Those "Rhinoceros Cockroaches" were very suspicious; it was hard to determine their rtionship with the Mutant Worm Swarm. However, they left nothing behind in their path, posing a threat to ordinary people as well.

    "I understand. We''ll be careful with both types of insects."

    Sure enough, Teacher Shen Fei understood the underlying meaning of his words.

    The insects resembling rhinoceros cockroaches must have some connection with the Mutant Worm Swarm; once spotted,

    one must be cautious as the Mutant Worm Swarm might appear in the vicinity any moment.

    "Are you guys well-equipped with weapons? If not enough, I can think of something to help!"

    Chen Fei wasn''t just concerned about the flustered Patan people; he was mainly worried about Teacher Shen Fei''s safety.

    If Teacher Shen wasn''t there, he wouldn''t care about the locals'' fate.

    "For now, it''s enough. The vigers pooled resources to buy tworge sniper rifles, fourrge-caliber machine guns, three hundred anti-armor rockets, ten mortars, ten grenadeunchers, four me throwers, and several anti-infantry directional mines and hand grenades."

    Teacher Shen Fei counted the emergency purchases on her fingers.

    The vigers also had numerous 7.62mm caliber automatic weapons, which, when focused fire was applied, could not be underestimated.

    Chen Fei thought for a moment and said, "Make some more Molotov cocktails; they mighte in handy."

    The high temperatures generated by fire should effectively threaten the Mutant Worm Swarm and the insects like Rhinoceros Cockroaches, considering proteins fear high heat, which denatures them into crispy chicken vor.

    "Molotov cocktails, ah, you''re right, I''m on it. Gasoline, sugar, and what else was there?"

    Teacher Shen Fei tried hard to recall her middle school chemistry sses.

    Chen Fei reminded her, "Also rubber, white phosphorus¡­"

    These materials were very easy to obtain. White phosphorus is a fire starter. This way, one doesn''t need a visible me to ignite before throwing; just smashing the bottle would cause the white phosphorus to react with air and self-ignite. Even without white phosphorus, it''s just an extra step.

    However, care must be taken during transport to avoid self-ignition.

    "Right, right, right, I''m getting on it. We''ll reconver. If there''s any new information, please notify me immediately."

    "Certainly!"

    Chen Fei and Teacher Shen both ended the call together.

    Teacher Shen remembered the recipe for the Molotov cocktail, couldn''t wait to get started. The materials were readily avable, cheap, and easy to put together.

    However, there was still an urgent matter to attend to¡ªthe selected campground wasn''t safe. It''d be better if the ground underneath waspletely made of solid rock, making it difficult for the Earth Escape Technique-using mutant insects to surface.

    After returning to his shack, Chen Fei gently ced Little Bird back in its nest, took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and headed to the cafeteria.

    After dinner, he still had to help Chef Abel. The newly salted duck eggs were unexpectedly popr. Chen Fei and Chef Abel nned to process all their egg stocks, some into salted duck eggs and some into preserved eggs, to add variety to the cafeteria offerings, which was undeniably better than frozen meals.

    Toting snacks that could serve as a drink apaniment back to his shack, Chen Fei discovered that Manager Hanna had arrived half an hour earlier than the appointed time.

    Xiao Jiu''s nest had been ced on the round table for some reason; the female executive manager was peering into it.

    "Manager Hanna, what''s wrong?"

    Chen Fei casually closed the door of the shack.

    Since no one else came and there were no thieves at the Aircrew Base, locking the door made no difference.

    Inside the nest was a Magical Beast Crystal Core that was quite valuable, but... you''re here just to sneak a peek?

    "Look!"

    Hanna Gagar withdrew her gaze from the nest and straightened up again by the round table.

    -

 Chapter 134: Section 134 - Rennovation

    Chen Fei, carrying a bag full ofte-night snacks, walked over and peered into the bird''s nest on the round table, not being able to help but jump in surprise.

    "Oh my, what''s going on here?"

    The demon crystal was still there, but for some mysterious reason, there was a pile of ck feathers inside the bird''s nest, almost overflowing.

    Xiao Jiu''s feathers?!

    Chen Fei looked at the female executive manager in shock.

    "Where''s Xiao Jiu?"

    There were neither mice nor cats in the facility, though there were a few dogs. While dogs might chase mice, they''re not interested in birds!

    "You don''t know?"

    Hanna Gagar was slightly surprised, then as if she understood something, a teasing look appeared in her eyes.

    Chen Fei said annoyedly, "What should I know? What''s up with these feathers?"

    But his heart started to panic silently. When he had gone to the cafeteria, Xiao Jiu had been curled up snugly in its nest, sleeping soundly. But now, only a nest full of feathers remained.

    Could it be that some gluttonous creature stripped my little bird bare and then swallowed it whole?

    I''d beat the crap out of anyone who dared eat my bird.

    "Don''t worry, it''s fine!"

    Seeing Chen Fei getting worked up, the female executive manager covered her mouth andughed.

    "It''s fine?"

    Chen Fei looked at the bird''s nest doubtfully, still seeing nothing but feathers. He reached in and shifted a few feathers around, revealing a chubby little body.

    This is utterly bizarre!

    Had it eaten something it shouldn''t have while he wasn''t watching and lost all its feathers? And not just a few, but all clean off, turning into a little bald bird.

    "How did it turn into this?"

    Chen Fei felt even worse.

    If it weren''t for the recognizable sharp beak and ws, he would have almost thought Xiao Jiu had been switched out.

    The little bird''s eyes were closed, its chubby pink body gently heaving with its breathing. Something inside seemed to be glowing, flickering brightly and dimly.

    He touched it gently, and its body was very hot, almost scalding.

    "You didn''t know?"

    The female executive manager became even more certain of her guess, finding it increasingly amusing.

    "Know what? Uh, do you know why?"

    Chen Fei looked at her puzzled, as Manager Hanna''s reaction seemed a bit strange, as if she knew something.

    From another perspective, Xiao Jiu''s condition didn''t seem that bad, he just didn''t know the reason.

    "Of course, it might have advanced in rank!"

    Hanna Gagar had never thought that a Low-Rank Magical Beast like the Pure Light Sparrow would advance in rank.

    Probably nobody but Chen Fei, this fool, would use a High-Rank Magical Beast Crystal Core to cultivate such an insignificant magical beast.

    Ranking a Pure Light Sparrow as a First Order Magical Beast was indeed overestimating it.

    Chen Fei was just lucky. Xiao Jiu was one of the rare Pure Light Sparrows capable of wielding the Light Healing Technique, and this Rookie probably thought all Pure Light Sparrows could cast such Light-based Spells!

    In fact, only one in ten thousand Pure Light Sparrows could unleash the Light Healing Technique.

    "Advance in rank?"

    Chen Fei frowned, he was not ignorant of the magical beasts'' advancement in rank.

    But he had never heard of avian magical beasts losing all their feathers in the process of advancing, turning into a bald chicken.

    Hanna Gagar exined to Chen Fei, "Only a very few magical beasts lose all their fur during their advancement, but formon-blooded Low-Rank magical beasts, advancements mean a transformation, an upheaval within that transforms as if turning over a new leaf. The lower the rank, the bigger the change, simply put, aplete transformation.

    For Xiao Jiu, it''s a good thing as its bloodline potential will greatly enhance, far surpassing other Pure Light Sparrows."

    General knowledge is easily essible to ordinary people.

    But more in-depth subjects are not something the average person cane into contact with.

    Knowledge is priceless and free, belonging to everyone, but the channels to ess knowledge have their price, and no one can gain something for nothing.

    A paperback textbook costs 1.8 Yuan, while a hardcover costs 10.8 Yuan. The price is different, but the content is the same. That''s roughly the idea.

    If one doesn''t work hard enough, even with a diamond-studded textbook, they still won''t be able to get into college.

    "Aplete transformation?!"

    Upon hearing the conclusive remark, Chen Fei finally slowly nodded.

    He indeed didn''t know this, as it wasn''t his field of study in college.

    But Manager Hanna''s exnation made sense, a lower starting point implies higher growth potential and malleability. However, advancementes with risks, and if it fails...

    Noticing the change in Chen Fei''s expression, almost spelling "worry" on his face, Hanna Gagar said, "You don''t need to worry, cing a Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core next to it is the best insurance, at least until it breaks through to Earth Order, you don''t have to worry about Xiao Jiu''s advancement risks."

    With the Light Element contained within a Third Rank Earth Order Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core, a Pure Light Sparrow''s path to advancement in the Human Order would face no obstacles.

    Even though magical beasts like Pure Light Sparrows can advance in rank, the probability is much lowerpared to those with the innate ability to use the Light Healing Technique, and cases of losing all their feathers are extremely rare.

    Chen Fei''s rather reckless act of nurturing the lowest-ss magical beast with a high-rank Magical Beast Crystal Core was also very umon. Given such resources, one could easily cultivate a fairly powerful magical beast, sufficiently blessing at least two generations. It would still be far superior to a bird that has negativebat abilities (can''t hurt others, only heals them).

    Exchanging a Third Rank Earth Order Magical Beast Crystal Core, worth millions of Star Yuan, for a not very useful "Band-Aid" was a massive loss.

    On one hand, Star Yuan might be out of everyone''s price range, but I like him.

    On the other hand, the Magical Beast Crystal Core was a gift from the female Metallic Giant Dragon Yn to Xiao Jiu, so it wouldn''t be right to just use it as I pleased.

    So both the person and the dragon are cluelessly muddling through this.

    Chen Fei took a deep breath and said with a pat on his chest, "Haha, then there''s no problem, Manager Hanna. You really know a lot."

    As they ced Xiao Jiu''s nest to the side, Hanna Gagel started unpacking the dinner Chen Fei brought, while saying, "If you had attended a private noble school from an early age, you''d easily know these things, and even have the chance to interact with Magical Beasts."

    "Hehe!"

    Chen Fei chuckled dryly, aware that he and Manager Hanna came from two different social sses.

    From elementary to high school, Chen Fei attended public schools that were free of tuition fees, where the only requirement was to pay for meals; he didn''t even have to pay for textbooks and workbooks. He definitely couldn''t afford the hefty tuition of private noble schools.

    The cost for one term could sustain an ordinary family for several strenuous years of hard work, and that was just the basic course fee, excluding additional expenses like meals, clothing, amodations, study tours, specialized skill coaching, travel costs, and more, which could add up to more than the basic tuition alone.

    Not to mention extras like personal single rooms, private small vis, room service, ordered meals, private dressing rooms, etc.

    While ordinary people''s kids diligently sat in ssrooms with in textbooks, children from wealthy families who attended private noble schools were already busy with specialized practical courses like horse riding, vehicr handling on sea,nd, air, and outdoor adventures.

    Comparing oneself to others could really be fatal!

    "Actually, I''m quite curious as to how far Xiao Jiu can develop."

    The female executive manager was keen on watching this excitement unfold, not bothering whether Chen Fei was misusing the Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core or not.

    "I''m also very curious¡ªoh, the alcohol today is quite special."

    Chen Fei nodded, arranging his dinner just to see Manager Hanna bring up a bottle of liquor that was milky white in appearance, somewhat like rice wine.

    "It''s tequ that''s been aging for ten years; I still have about a dozen barrels left in my cer."

    Vigorously unscrewing the bottle, Hanna Gagel poured a full ss for both herself and Chen Fei.

    "Barrels?"

    Chen Fei eyed the ss bottle, keenly catching the keyword.

    Barrels and bottles arepletely different; only rich families store alcohol by the barrel.

    Poor folks dare not even think about it, dare not think about it.

    "Having a cer without oak barrels is a total waste! Here''s to one!"

    Hanna Gagel picked up her ss and gestured.

    "Ah, sure!"

    Chen Fei quickly picked up his ss and clinked with hers, gulping it down in one go, then gasping for air, heughed and said, "Good liquor, quite strong."

    It must have been at least seventy percent alcohol by volume,pletely different from rice wine.

    Then he took a bite of stir-fried chicken breast to sober up before asking, "How big is your wine cer?"

    The female executive manager refilled her ss and said indifferently, "Compared to my father''s cer, my personal wine cer is not veryrge, just over 3,000 square feet."

    The most deadly bragging is always the subtle kind.

    Chen Fei rolled his eyes, unable to understand the world of the wealthy.

    Once he saves enough money, he too will get a barrel and boast about it.

    The kind of oak barrel that could kill a bull with a single drop¡ªjust thinking about it makes him drool.

    Ding, ding, ding, ding...

    An enchanting sound suddenly rang out beside the female executive manager.

    But Chen Fei was looking toward the bird nest on the small round table, worried that the sudden sound might wake Xiao Jiu and interrupt his valuable chance to advance in rank.

    Fortunately, thepletely featherless little bird was oblivious, a thin yellowishyer formed on the surfaces of its beak and ws. It seemed, just as Manager Hanna had said, that it was undergoing aplete transformation.

    "There''s news!"

    Hanna Gagel set down her ss and took out a tablet from the bag hanging on her chair''s back.

    Having a tablet during a drinking session with Chen Fei indicated she was well prepared.

    "Manager Hanna, this is Rembrandt."

    It was a video call.

    The tablet stood up on the table, and both Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel could clearly see the grey-haired old man with reading sses and theboratory background on the screen.

    "Good evening, Professor Rembrandt."

    Hanna Gagel picked up her ss in salute.

    "Uh, Manager Hanna, who is this beside you...?"

    Through the tablet''s camera, not only Hanna Gagel was visible, but Chen Fei as well.

    "Hello, Professor, I''m Chen Fei."

    Chen Fei, mustering courage, also picked up his ss.

    He looked toward the female executive manager, seeking answers from her.

    But Hanna Gagel gestured to the tablet, indicating that Chen Fei should keep watching.

    "Alright! Let''s get straight to the point!"

    Professor Rembrandt adjusted the reading sses on his face, picked up a remote control, and pressed a button. A three-dimensional projection immediately appeared behind him.

    "Based on the biological sample you provided..."

    -

 Chapter 135: Section 135 - Convergence

    Whether at the Aircrew Base 911 or the higher-level Apocalypse Defense Group, there was never a shortage of technicians who could operate various instruments and perform simple analyses and tests, but true experts were rare, especially those specializing in the biology of mutants and magical beasts.

    High-end professional research mainly relied on the technical capabilities of the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, which effectively reduced costs.

    Professor Rembrandt Hamming was a senior expert at the Committee''s biologyboratory. The mutant sample data collected by Aircrew Base 911 and the live test report of the suspected Rhinoceros Cockroach had all been submitted to him; it was clear he had made some discovery when he initiated the video call sote.

    The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee did not merely oversee the clearing of mutants that emerged from time to time at aircrew bases around the globe and handled out-of-control magical beast groups. It also had extensive research on these two major harmful biospheres, providing tactical guidance and special biological potions to help the various aircrew bases.

    "¡­The Rhino Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 seem to have a symbiotic rtionship, where the former is apanion organism to thetter, basically that''s the situation. I hope 911 can send the sample entities over as soon as possible, given that a professionalb can conduct more in-depth analyses."

    Constantly pressing the remote, Professor Rembrandt tirelessly narrated his analyses and research findings.

    The two new samples discovered by Aircrew Base 911, based on prior database sequence numbering, were named Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 respectively, indicating that these were entirely new species, thus receiving new identifiers, especially the Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01, which was almost the first discovery of this particr type.

    From various professional perspectives, he exined in depth yet simplified, addressing every point directly without using obscure technical jargon, allowing evenypeople to understand clearly.

    His ability to exin the esoteric and refined matters in such a simple and understandable manner deeply impressed Chen Fei.

    This was a true professional, not half-baked like some, who merely use professional terms and jargon to boast their academic levels, putting on airs more than doing meaningful work.

    "No problem, I will arrange for the ne to bring them to you tomorrow."

    The female executive manager turned to Chen Fei and said, "Rookie, tomorrow you take the items by ne to the public airport, handle the express delivery, and head straight to Aircrew Base 912 to rendezvous on your return flight."

    Chen Fei eximed in surprise, "Huh? Aren''t we still at war?"

    Going to the airport to send items was no issue, but going to Aircrew Base 912? Wasn''t that under the domain of the Merman Brothers Consortium?

    On the tabletputer screen, Professor Rembrandt Hamming shrugged his shoulders; the video call then disconnected as he was a researcher who did not participate in conflicts between military contractors and strictly maintained neutrality.

    The tablet automatically returned to themunication software''s main interface.

    Hanna Gagar abruptly downed the drink in her hand and, hitting the table, said, "In this condition, can we still continue fighting?"

    The Merman Brothers Consortium had not won, but Aircrew Base 911 had not lost either.

    So, there must be a loser, but who?

    Apocalypse Defense Group, of course!

    A corporate war had seen three shareholders getting wiped out, with McAllen Gager, Hanna''s own uncle, being one of them.

    Lacking firm stance, they deserved the loss.

    The other tangible and intangible losses were even more substantial, not to mention with Aircrew Base 911 increasingly being unresponsive tomands, endangering the industry ranking of Apocalypse Defense Group, almost threatening to drop out of the top thirty, and possibly falling beyond the fiftieth.

    Years of hard work gone overnight.

    Hanna Gagar was not as blindly loyal as her father and uncle; the passive andpromising behavior of Apocalypse Defense Group significantly lost points in her eyes, making the small shares she held increasingly insignificant.

    Chen Fei was still not reassured and tentatively asked, "Manager Hanna, there won''t be any danger, will there?"

    After all, previously the Merman Brothers Consortium had been openly hostile towards Aircrew Base 911, wishing they could just squash it with a p; recklessly running into their territory could mean walking into an ambush. What if there was one?

    "Haha, you think too highly of them. With the Global United Defense Committee involved this time, the Merman Brothers Consortium wouldn''t dare make a rash move."

    The executive manager couldn''t help but scoff. The investigative team previously sent by the Joint Defense Committee might have been biased in secret, but times had now changed.

    Eliminating mutants and out-of-control magical beasts was the primary duty of all military contractors and aircrew bases, who would dare to ignore these critical tasks and focus solely on infighting?

    Moreover, Aircrew Base 912 had already been thoroughly ughtered by a mutant worm swarm, leaving none behind. Perhaps the Merman Brothers Consortium no longer had the resolve to continue the corporate war, just dealing with the loss of materials,pensations, and pressures from the rtives of the deceased were enough trouble for this industry-ranked eighth giant military contractor.

    The corporate war that put Aircrew Base 911 in a difficult position was temporarily at a pause, and whether it would continue remained unknown, but being cautious always did no harm.

    It wasn''t just the Merman Brothers Consortium; the bases near Aircrew Base 912 were also terrified!

    One could never predict when the mutant worm swarm might strike again unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard. No one could assure they could repel or even eliminate these ferociously iing creatures.

    "I don''t understand!"

    Chen Fei wisely shook his head, ying dumb!

    This was not something his minor role could meddle with. Without a clear head, he''d likely be ttened in minutes.

    They say misfortune shouldn''te upon family members, nonsense!

    "Mixing in this crowd, none adhere to the rules of Jianghu, disregarding martial virtue as the way to dominance."

    "My great Tang''s first reign was named ''Wude,'' but did the great Tang really uphold these martial virtues?"

    "Hehe, let''s drink, let''s drink!"

    Hanna Gagel pointed at Chen Fei.

    This rookie was acting dumb while being fully aware, his intentions condemnable.

    Drink, eat, and be merry!

    -

    The next day, before dawn had broken,

    Chen Fei piloted an A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft, taking off into the sky. After flying a few more times, he was bing proficient¡ªpeople are forced out by circumstances, the greater the pressure, the quicker the growth.

    The Aircrew Base had nned his altitude and route for him and notified the nearest public airport. With a full tank and light load, the "Big Mouth Monster''s" range was sufficient to smoothly reach the destination.

    A live Rhino Cockroach AA-01, fragments of the Mutant BC-2325''s carapace, and several stones picked up from the site were all packed up and secured by seat belts in the rear seat of the cockpit.

    The Rhino Cockroach AA-01 had formidable mandibles, frightening enough to gnaw on items as hard as those with a Mohs hardness of 9. It also secreted a special corrosive digestive fluid, able to corrode what it couldn''t gnaw through, be it rock, ss, ceramics, stics, wood, or metal¡ªalmost nothing was rejected.

    To properly encase this creature, ensuring it neither damaged the container nor was harmed itself, and needed to be delivered alive to the Global United Defense Committee''s biologicalb, besides a sturdy titanium alloy container, its body was also secured, preventing its mischievous mandibles from touching anything. Lastly, it was fiercely threatened and warned.

    That''s right! This creature wasn''t stupid, with intelligenceparable to a magical beast. Even if it couldn''t understand humannguage, it should grasp the intent behind the tone of threats and warnings.

    Six hourster, as the fuel in the auxiliary tank was gradually depleted, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was finally detected by the airport radar. Directed by air traffic control personnel, he circled above near the airport and waited for anding slot. Seizing the gap betweenrge airliners taking off andnding, he smoothlynded on the runway.

    Chen Fei, carrying the securely packed boxes, jumped down from the turboprop, ran all the way to the airport''s express service, and sent the packages. He also sent a package to his family.

    His personal package contained some gains from his time at work, which were of no use kept in hand. There were over a dozen gemstones left by the elder of the Neanderthal tribe, Barut, and some jade raw stones picked up in the wilderness (authenticity unknown).

    These weren''t considered valuable treasures; the truly valuable item was the high-purity gold that Chen Fei extracted from electronic products using his special ability, which after refining, was about the size of a palm, weighing about six or seven ounces, enough to make several pieces of jewelry for his younger sister, mother, and sister-inw, or directly exchange for equivalent jewelry.

    Gold was as good as cash and sending it directly posed no issue, except for a higher insurance fee.

    Taking a convenient flight for a personal errand wasn''t exactly using public resources for personal benefit; no one would fuss over the extra fuel spent for an additional kilogram or two.

    After handling the shipment and turning around, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" was filled up with fuel by the airport ground crew, the auxiliary tank brimming.

    After queuing for two hours with a bunch ofrge airnes and private nes, it was finally his turn to rush onto the runway for takeoff. At three hundred meters above the ground, he was now able to perform the takeoff without any sloppiness.

    As dusk approached, Chen Fei finally saw the brightly lit Aircrew Base 912 on the dimly visible horizon.

    Fortunately, Chen Fei had set off before dawn; otherwise, he would have had to rush and would only arrive here in the middle of the night.

    The base, initially ravaged by the insects, was barely tidied up by the Merman Brothers Consortium after great effort, restoring both power and lighting.

    Otherwise, Chen Fei''s "Big Mouth Monster" and other aircraft wouldn''t have been able tond smoothly.

    The "Big Mouth Monster" had just stabilized on the slightly bumpy apron when the female executive manager, along with several veterans, came to meet him.

    Apanying them was a liaison who clearly looked "annoyed."

    The Merman Brothers Consortium, out of courtesy, sent a liaison who didn''t hide his frustration, expressing it with displeasure, "Manager Hanna, we''ve waited half a day just for a fighter pilot?"

    He thought some important figure wasing, but it turned out just to be a turboprop.

    A turboprop with just one pilot¡ªwas that all?

    No more!

    It was simply absurd to not take this seriously!

    "Not only is he the first eyewitness to discover the mutant, but he is also a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user. What did you think?"

    The female executive manager of the Aircrew Base, Hanna Gagel, saw through the other party''s cunning thoughts and retorted without any courtesy.

    Never underestimate someone!

    -

 Chapter 136: Chapter 136 - Open Confrontation and Hidden Schemes

    Being the first eyewitness to discover a mutant is no trivial matter, and certainly not something regr folks can casually criticize a supernatural power user for.

    Chen Fei turned off the engine, and the five-ded propeller of the "Big Mouth Monster" swiftly came to a halt.

    He climbed out of the cockpit and sized up the guy next to Manager Hanna with a look of disgruntlement, asking, "What''s this guy saying?"

    It seemed he wasn''t holding in anything good.

    "He took you for an insignificant little character, a minor role!"

    The female executive manager didn''t hesitate to throw this opportunist under the bus.

    Bang!~

    "Ow..."

    The apanying personnel from the Merman Brothers Consortium received a kick in the stomach and flew backwards three or four meters, curling up on the ground like a shrimp, turning pale as beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared and he inhaled sharply, unable to even let out a scream or a moan.

    "He''s right! I am an insignificant little character."

    Chen Fei slowly withdrew his foot without a trace of anger¡ªin fact, he wasn''t angry at all!

    Talking nonsense about the obvious truth!

    The old soldiers held back theirughter, swaying side to side¡ªthis kid was just too honest.

    The female executive manager crossed her arms behind her back and nodded in approval, saying, "Well done!"

    Hanna Gagel had wanted to smack that guy for a while but, out of respect for her status, had felt it beneath her to engage in such pettiness.

    Chen Fei''s actions were exactly to her liking.

    "I can''t stand guys like him. Is there anything to eat around here?"

    Chen Fei looked around. Theyout and facilities of many Aircrew Bases were pretty simr, and he was trying to figure out where the mess hall was.

    He had been flying almost the entire day, and his stomach was growling with hunger.

    Hanna Gagel knew what Chen Fei was looking for and said, "Don''t bother looking, there''s only military rations here."

    "Then there''s no helping it!"

    Chen Fei shrugged his shoulders and then suggested, "How about a military-style potluck? You''ve all had it, right?"

    Arge stainless steel pot sat on a fire, filled with a variety of ingredients¡ªluncheon meat, sausages, meatballs, instant noodles... and some freeze-dried mushrooms and vegetables for preservation, all from military field rations. When these ingredients came together, it was as if a chemical reaction took ce, creating an aroma so enticing it was hard to resist.

    This was no Huaxia delicacy but rather a trashy dish concocted by Goryeo people, still far better than in military rations.

    If there were some spicy pickled cabbage to top it off, it would have been even more authentic.

    "Smells so good! I''m hungry again!"

    The female executive manager, with her bowl and chopsticks ready, unceremoniously dug in without waiting.

    The circle of old soldiers was quick to act too, each one vying for food.

    Damn...

    Watching the pot quickly emptied to just broth, Chen Fei wished he could shove these guys into the pot to make a true "military-style feast."

    Finally satisfying his own hunger, Chen Fei observed people still bustling about nearby and asked Manager Hanna, "What are all these people busy with?"

    After getting knocked away by his kick, that individual from the Merman Brothers Consortium hadin there for a while before struggling to get up in a fit of rage and leaving, and since then, no one had bothered to interact with them; they even had to scrounge up their own military rations meal from the supplies.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium had lit up Aircrew Base 912 like it was broad daylight, with transport nes constantly arriving, bringing more manpower and resources.

    Manager Hanna Gagel spread her hands and shrugged, exining, "They''re still collecting clues left by the mutant and busy repairing the entire base."

    Mutant BC-2325 had devoured every living thing before Rhinoceros Cockroach AA-01 cleaned up all remaining dead matter.

    If it wasn''t for the surveince cameras connected to the cloud, sending video footage in real-time, probably no one would know what exactly happened to Aircrew Base 912.

    Now, apart from the steel and concrete structures that weren''tpletely gnawed away, the base was practically empty¡ªa window ss wasn''t even spared. To restore it to its former state was going to be a huge effort.

    But doing nothing would mean giving up on the base, which in practical terms had already be just a shell.

    No wonder they had been too upied to pay attention to the arrival of Hanna Gagel and her group; they had merely assigned one person to coordinate and apany them, or rather, it seemed like they''d dispatched someone to keep an eye on them under the guise of hospitality.

    "Looks like there''s nothing for me to do tonight!"

    After eating his fill, Chen Fei started to yawn; flying more than a dozen hours had left him exhausted.

    "Guess it''ll have to wait until tomorrow."

    As if catching the yawn from him, Hanna Gagel let out one as well, nced at him, and asked, "Going to sleep?"

    "Let''s go together! Ah, I''m so tired!"

    Chen Fei yawned incessantly, his eyelids bing heavier and heavier.

    Aircrew Base 912 had already arranged the guest rooms.

    One for each person.

    All through the night, theing and going of the transport nes at Aircrew Base 912 never really ceased.

    The hastily repaired guest rooms weren''t very soundproof, so between the noise and the vibrations, Hanna Gagel''s sleep quality was rather poor, especially since she was the type who had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds.

    It wasn''t until the early hours of the morning that the runway finally quieted down, but by then, she hadpletely lost any desire to sleep.

    After freshening up a bit, she yawned and stepped outside. The chilly morning breeze gave her goosebumps, clearing her mind considerably in the process.

    Hanna Gagar saw from a distance a figure bustling around on the tarmac.

    "Chen Fei, you''re up so early?"

    She looked left and right, only to see about thirtyrge and small nes, but no other people.

    Next to the Big Mouth Monster (new model) designated as ne 211, sat a small transport ne from the 911 Aircrew Base, which the executive manager and the old soldiers took to reach the 912 Aircrew Base.

    Chen Fei heard the voice, turned his head, and waved his hand while shouting, "Good morning, Manager Hanna, I woke up at five o''clock. Since I had nothing else to do, I decided toe out and do a routine check."

    This was a professional habit developed in the aircraft maintenance group and Genuine Fragrance squadron; seeing nes made him itch to dismantle and touch them.

    It would have been perfect if the system hadn''t chimed in.

    This damn Dog System, always dreaming of eating nes, wasn''t going to get any, and he wouldn''t indulge it.

    "Did you not sleep well either?"

    Hanna Gagar felt her eyelids starting to feel heavy again, a wave of resentment rising.

    She didn''t want to spend another moment in this wretched ce.

    "No, I had a great sleep!"

    Chen Fei was taken aback, shaking his head in confusion.

    Despite yawning nonstop and feeling extremely sleepy after filling his stomachst night, he found a spot to fall asleep, yet the quality of sleep was quite good. He woke up naturally around five in the morning, after a full nine hours of rest, feeling refreshed and full of energy once more.

    The female executive manager looked at Chen Fei: "..."

    She was envious and resentful of such carefree and lighthearted individuals since she was under immense pressure herself.

    "Sorry, sorry to bother you."

    Someone approached the tarmac, bowed slightly towards them, and continued, "The meeting will officially start at nine-thirty in the morning."

    "I know, thank you!"

    Hanna Gagar nodded her head, d that the Merman Brothers Consortium finally did something reliable.

    She thought she would have to dy here for another day or two, not to mention that back at the 911 Aircrew Base, a pile of matters was waiting to be dealt with.

    After delivering the message, the messenger was about to turn and leave when Chen Fei suddenly stopped him.

    "Wait, may I ask, why didn''t the older gentlemane yesterday?"

    "Uh... Reggie had a bit of an ident, so I was sent to notify you at thest minute."

    While speaking these words, the messenger couldn''t help feeling a surge of fear.

    Reggie Everson would probably have to lie in bed for half a month, courtesy of the 911 Aircrew Base folks. It''s said to be the work of a youngster; could it be the one standing before him asking the question...

    Hiss!

    You should know when to stop when you''ve bested someone; you caused the injury, yet you ask like this, shouldn''t you spare a thought for the consequences?

    "Oh, I see! So, are you going to be in charge of liaising with us from now on?"

    Chen Fei scrutinized the man, who immediately cringed, showing a terrified expression, clearly in a panic.

    "Yes, yes! If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave now!"

    The man hurried off as if fleeing, disappearing without a trace.

    He was just an unlucky kid pushed forward as a scapegoat; there was no need to put his life on the line.

    Hanna Gagar reproached softly, "You scared him."

    "Miss Hanna!"

    The old soldiers escorting the female executive manager to the 912 Aircrew Base gathered, though some had bruised faces and walked unsteadily.

    Hanna Gagar noticed something was off and asked frowning, "What happened to you guys?"

    The old soldiers looked at each other, their expressions awkward and hesitant, none daring to speak.

    It wasn''t until the executive manager''s expression grew stern that someone finally said, "Last night, a few guys provoked us, and, well, a fight broke out."

    "Who won? You guys or them?"

    Hanna Gagar''s face darkened; they had actually fought in secret, and she wondered if they had suffered any disadvantage.

    The 912 Aircrew Base was a trap, yet she had no choice but to attend. Bringing the experienced old soldiers was precisely to deal with such underhand tactics.

    An old soldier immediately puffed out his chest and said, "Miss Hanna, of course we won. We took on four each, broke four ribs, two legs, and an arm. We''re hardly hurt, our bones are very tough, cough cough!"

    He tried to speak boldly but couldn''t help coughing a few times, indicating he too had taken some hits.

    "A fight? Why didn''t you call me?"

    Chen Fei closed the inspection panel and walked over.

    He was in need of Energy Points and figured that getting into a fight might trigger a system task that could pay off.

    Whether it was hitting people or getting hit, neither was a problem for him.

    "Hey, Little Chen, we couldn''t disturb you with such a small matter!"

    The old soldiers exchanged looks; if they had called Chen Fei, they probably wouldn''t have had anything to do themselves.

    -

 Chapter 137: Section 137 - Provoked the Elder

    ```

    It was fifteen minutes before 9:30 a.m., and the meeting held at Aircrew Base 912 was set in a huge tent.

    The organizer was Merman Brothers Consortium, but the attendees were not limited to representatives from Aircrew Base 911. There were also representatives from over a dozen other aircrew bases. The total number of people, including those bases not under the Merman Brothers aegis, was about forty.

    In addition, there were representatives from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, the de facto hosts of the meeting. Without them, Hanna Gagel would have risked her sanity toe here and endangered her life. Even with Chen Fei, the Metal Ability User, she wouldn''t dare to assume she woulde out of this unscathed.

    Representatives from seventeen aircrew bases formed four or five small groups, huddling in twos and threes, chatting animatedly. Some were nodding, others frowning, some couldn''t stopughing, some appeared smug, and some wore a look of worry, presenting a microcosm of society.

    Yet the area around Hanna Gagel and Chen Fei was quiet and calm, with not a single person approaching to greet them.

    Even those not affiliated with the Merman Brothers Consortium and other military base representatives kept their distance. They asionally cast cryptic nces, filled with a mixture of sympathy, mockery, or schadenfreude, creating an atmosphere heavy with social reality in the vast tent.

    Apart from Aircrew Base 911, which was nominally still under its wing, Apocalypse Defense Group had almost lost all its aircrew bases and was currently in a state of downsizing with expenditures but no ie. Internal strife for power was ongoing and showed no sign of stabilizing anytime soon.

    Therefore, they did not bother to send any representatives this time, aside from those from Aircrew Base 911.

    To be urate, the inexperienced Chen Fei couldn''t be considered a delegate but rather an apanying person. He was there to bolster the morale of the female executive manager, and as a supernatural power user, he added some weight to the proceedings.

    Whether Apocalypse Defense Group sent representatives or not made little difference. The executive manager was working with several shareholders and directors to promote the independence of Aircrew Base 911, already beginning to untangle the financial entanglements between the base and the group.

    -

    Despite the hustle inside the tent, Chen Fei feltpletely out of ce and ufortable. He murmured quietly to himself, "I don''t like it here!"

    "Me neither!"

    The female executive manager also felt ufortable. She sensed the alienation and even overt hostility from those around her.

    With no poweres no rights. If Apocalypse Defense Group had been capable of standing up against Merman Brothers Consortium, Aircrew Base 911 wouldn''t have been in such a passive situation. Tactical victories on a small scale could not cover up the grand strategic failure on arger one.

    At least five aircrew bases had lost their entire airbat capabilities to Aircrew Base 911. "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron suffered heavy casualties but also established a formidable reputation. They were arguably the toughest fighters in thousands of miles.

    Even the powerful and resourceful Merman Brothers Consortium found this vexing. Not fighting was not an option¡ªit would mean admitting defeat and losing face¡ªyet, they had already invested so much without return, which was as good as throwing money to the wind.

    Though military contractors like them had nes, cannons, and armored vehicles at their disposal, resembling petty warlords, they were still inherently business entities. A small loss in business might be eptable, but a huge loss was unbearable. The daily consumption of resources and equipment, tallied up, could lead to bankruptcy.

    Just then, a disturbance arose outside the tent.

    "Colonel Everson, you can''t go in there!"

    "Stop him!"

    "Step aside if you don''t want to get hurt!"

    Two gunshots rang out in session.

    The entrance of the tent darkened as a burly man, escorted by several armed guards, burst in.

    The whole venue fell silent for a moment, all eyes turning toward themotion, rendering the space deathly quiet.

    A man of letters is no match for soldiers; with guns in hand, logic doesn''t matter.

    The burly middle-aged man surveyed the crowd with a sharp, aggressive look, then quickly identified his targets, pulled a pistol from his waist, chambered a round with a click, and made a beeline for Chen Fei and Manager Hanna Gagel.

    Chen Fei looked around; the closest person was at least ten meters away. When it came to a fistfight¡ªsnap!

    There''s only one truth.

    "Dammit, he''sing right for us."

    "What did you think?"

    The executive manager red at him, annoyed.

    Was his intelligence good enough for university?

    Maybe he had a fake diploma?

    Or perhaps he went to a low-ranking, unknown university?

    As the threshold for universities became higher and entrance grew more difficult, the number of fraudsters increased. Low-end scammers simply printed fake diplomas and ran, while high-end ones opened fake schools targeting foreign students looking to change their fortunes.

    Many innocent students wasted four precious years of their lives only to find they had spent so much time and money for nothing, attending a fake university and getting fleeced for years. The diplomas they received were not recognized officially.

    "I''ll handle this!"

    Chen Fei was sworn to hold the fort for Manager Hanna. He might not be good at much else, but taking a bullet he could do reasonably well.

    Despite the man''s menacing approach and loaded pistol, he posed no real threat to Chen Fei¡ªin fact, a stick would be more useful.

    At the very least, being hit on the head with a stick would actually hurt. As for bullets? He''d probably think it was just a fly bumping into him. Bad luck!

    The man didn''t even spare a nce at the executive manager, instead keeping his focus on Chen Fei. He approached, lifted his pistol, and demanded fiercely, "You foul brat, did you hurt my son?"

    "Huh?"

    ```

    Chen Fei had a face full of question marks, as it turned out the aggression was aimed at him.

    "Your son is?"

    "Reggie Everson. You hurt him, and I''m going to kill you."

    The man who barged into the tent with murderous intent was about to pull the trigger when someone shouted, "Stop, Colonel William Everson, please don''t do this!"

    Manager Hanna Gagel, standing behind Chen Fei, suddenly realized what was happening: They had dealt with the juniorst night, and today the senior hade.

    Who would have thought that the disagreeable escort from yesterday would have such a formidable father, a colonel to boot.

    "He hurt my son, and I''m going to avenge Reggie!"

    The burly man still fixed his deadly gaze on Chen Fei, the gun pointed at his head unwavering.

    The sight of his own sonnguishing on the hospital bed, barely clinging to life, enraged the father.

    The man bellowed furiously, "Put the gun down, William, this is an order!"

    Even if one didn''t care for the people from the Aircrew Base, one couldn''t break the established rules.

    When two countries go to war, envoys are not to be harmed. If a representative was shot in public, how could the Merman Brothers Consortium continue to operate in the industry?

    So what if they''re a giant ranked eighth in the industry? The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would be the first to not let off such rule-breakers posing a potential threat.

    "He hurt Reggie; Reggie is a good kid. The doctor said he''s bedridden for six months, damn it, how could you strike so harshly?"

    The burly man''s face twisted in anger, his gun hand trembling slightly.

    Seeing his own son kicked half to death, the father was naturally furious. Screw whatever damn meeting this was¡ªjust go to hell!

    "William, calm down. Don''t mess up the big picture."

    A man walked into the tent, his tonemanding respect without anger.

    Colonel William Everson, with the gun pointed at Chen Fei, trembled through his body and involuntarily lowered the gun, holstered it, and snapped into a crisp salute.

    "Mr. Todd!"

    The person who had just spoken was Todd Phillip, one of the eleven deputy generals of the Merman Brothers Consortium.

    He dared not disregard the words of such a significant figure.

    All the while, Chen Fei, who had remained expressionless, now asked curiously, "Uh, may I ask, Mr. William, what do you do?"

    He had thought the youngster would need to be in bed for only half a month, not half a year. That seemed overly frail.

    The executive manager behind him tugged at his sleeve¡ªa bad premonition. Why ask such a foolish question at this time?

    Colonel William Everson, a burly figure, suddenly turned his head and red at Chen Fei, pointing his finger at him and viciously said, "Kid, remember this: I''m the Operations Director of the Merman Brothers Consortium, William Everson. You''ve injured my son, and you''re in big trouble, serious trouble!"

    The Operations Director of the Merman Brothers Consortium?

    Hanna Gagel couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. This meant that the main military force of the huge Merman Brothers Consortium was under his control.

    The attack faced by the Aircrew Base fell within the jurisdiction of this Operations Director¡ªit could very well be that Colonel William Everson was personally directing and executing these actions.

    If they''d known about the youngster''s significant background, they should have warned Chen Fei not to kick too hard¡ªthey''d need to give a beating, yes, but not one that would provoke the parents.

    After all, when you beat a dog, you must look at its owner, let alone when you''re kicking someone''s child.

    Now they had seriously offended someone.

    "So..."

    Chen Fei''s expression changed and abruptly pulled out the pistol from the man''s waistband, quickly pushed it into his hand, pressed down on the barrel, and steered the muzzle toward his own heart. Then he sneered.

    "So who the hell are you trying to scare? If you have the guts, just shoot here, press the trigger! Coward! Don''t be like your pathetic son, only whimpering away. Are you a spineless fake, old man?"

    The entire venue fell dead silent, even Todd Phillip, deputy director of the Merman Brothers Consortium who had just entered, was stunned!

    This was tantamount to not valuing one''s life!

    "You, you bastard!"

    Colonel William Everson gritted his teeth, his face turning beet red.

    But he never actually seemed intent on pulling the trigger. Instead, he tried to retract the gun, but Chen Fei wouldn''t allow it, and the two stiffly locked in a standoff.

    He flicked the safety off and pushed at the trigger.

    Bang!~

    -

 Chapter 138: Section 138 - Never Seen Such a Shameless Person

    Being able to sit in the position of the director of operations at Merman Brothers Consortium meant there wasn''t a single individual who was simple-minded or prone to rash, impulsive behavior.

    Colonel William Everson, seething with murderous intent as he and his men burst into the venue with guns, had never actually intended to shoot anyone to avenge his son, Reggie.

    Honestly, getting beaten up and lying down for half a year ispletely different from being maimed or even killed.

    His actions were merely meant to scare the people at the Aircrew Base, hoping to see them embarrass themselves, terrified to the point of peeing their pants, and losing face utterly.

    From another perspective, it was also meant to serve as a show of force.

    But he had never expected to encounter a clueless rookie who would attempt suicide without a second thought the moment they disagreed.

    Especially since he had just threatened the other party, now even if he was right, he would appear wrong.

    "Ah! I''m dead!"

    Chen Fei clutched his chest, staggered backwards several steps, then fell backwards.

    Hanna Gagel covered her face, looking as if she couldn''t believe what had happened and couldn''t ept it, but actually she couldn''t bear to look directly.

    Such acting was so awkward it gave people goosebumps; if he tried to work in a film and television city, he might only be fit to y a corpse.

    "No, no, it wasn''t like that, I didn''t, it was him, he did it to himself."

    As the gunshot rang out, everyone''s gaze focused on William Everson, as if to say, you are the murderer.

    As the person in question, he was panicked beyond measure. He could not have imagined the young man would be so impulsive, not caring about his own life at all, grabbing the gun, stuffing it, and firing all in one go.

    Caught off guard, William Everson waspletely unprepared and if he hadn''t been slightly alert, he might have reflexively pulled the trigger himself.

    But now... it was all toote.

    The pistol, still smoking,y in his hand, the echo of the gunshot lingering, leaving him unable to deny it.

    "Quick, go call someone, get a doctor!"

    Someone shouted, though they didn''t harbor much hope.

    Being shot in the chest, even if it missed the heart, was likely fatal¡ª the kic energy released by the bullet entering the body was enough to destroy delicate organs, causing irreparable fatal damage.

    "Damn, who fired the shot, what''s going on?"

    "Damn it! What just happened!"

    The veteran soldiers from the Aircrew Base forcefully rushed in just in time to see a dazed William Everson, Miss Hanna covering her face, and Chen Fei lying on the ground, motionless, clutching his chest.

    Uh!~

    What was this kid up to now?

    The veterans were collectively dumbstruck; this rookie was really too much.

    "Ah!~"

    Chen Fei suddenly sat up straight.

    He had yed dead.

    The close-range shot had nearly knocked the wind out of him.

    He couldn''t y around like this anymore.

    "You, you-you..."

    He almost scared Colonel Everson out of his wits.

    "You shot at me?" Chen Fei bared his teeth, his expression suddenly bing very frightening, and said, "You owe me a life!"

    Pointing a gun muzzle at a college student in public, this old guy was even more obnoxious than his son.

    "But you''re not dead!"

    Colonel Everson called out in frustration.

    Damn it, it was really bizarre, clearly he had shot him in the chest, yet he was still able to y dead ande back to life.

    "You fired at me, so I must return the favor!"

    Chen Fei took advantage of the other''s disarray, suddenly rushed forward, and snatched the pistol from his hand.

    "Stop!"

    "Don''t mess around!"

    "Put the gun down!"

    Damn, what exactly was going on today.

    The same gun, one moment you''re pointing it at me, the next I''m pointing it at you, and it even fired, all because of a kid being beaten up andid up for half a year¡ªit was such a trivial matter, yet it ended up with guns drawn, was it necessary?

    Ultimately, most of the people present were still siding with Merman Brothers Consortium, and the bias became clearly prevalent all of a sudden.

    Previously, not many people had spoken up, not even the representatives from the Global United Defense Committee.

    But now... truly disgusting behavior.

    "Rookie, don''t..."

    The female executive manager finally realized what Chen Fei intended to do, but it was already toote to stop him.

    BANG!~

    A burst of blood exploded from Colonel Everson''s chest, he looked down incredulously, slowly falling backwards, holding his chest in almost the exact same pose as Chen Fei had just done, with the details of his gaze, expression, and motion making his performance incredibly realistic.

    Could it be anything but realistic!

    It was so real that he was actually dead on the spot!

    "Damn it, you killed Colonel Everson."

    "Murderer, you''re a murderer."

    "Arrest him, he must pay with his life."

    The unfair game had once again turned around.

    Chen Fei didn''t like the game at all, he really didn''t like it.

    He gripped the pistol backwards, leaving the handlepletely free, and then signaled with it to everyone around.

    "Whoever here is a little pussy and isn''t happy can take this chance!"

    Such a gesture, damage zero, insult 100%.

    The crowd was infuriated, and the atmosphere of shared enmity suddenly fell silent.

    No one dared to actuallye to take the pistol, fire at the youth''s heart, and then have the youth shoot them in the heart as well.

    Who has an immortal body to dare y like this?

    Damn, this kind of risking one''s life was even more lethal than Russian roulette, survival rate 0, fatality rate 100%.

    "Come on! All you little pussies, do your worst!"

    Chen Fei gripped the pistol backward, using menacing res to counter anyone who challenged him.

    What the hell! Bring it on.

    Manager Hanna Gagar was terrified watching this; it was simply crazy.

    By provoking all representatives from Aircrew Base in this manner, even those from the United Defense Committee hadn''t been spared.

    "Hey, Rookie, that''s enough, pull back while you can,"

    Hanna Gagar quickly pressed down Chen Fei''s arm. She had already noticed the increasingly ugly expressions on the faces of those present, even the face of Todd Philip, Vice President of the Meman Brothers Consortium.

    Continuing to provoke like this could make these people really do something irrational.

    "Kid, we at the Meman Brothers Consortium will remember you."

    Vice President Todd Philip stared intensely at Chen Fei.

    The public killing of the director of operations was aplete mess.

    If we had to be exact with the me, it would fall on Colonel William Everson for not supposed to have entered the meeting armed, pointing his gun at the other party, and crucially, shooting first, which was the biggest disadvantage since the other party could justify any actions as self-defense.

    Ultimately, the love-driven Director of Operations had underestimated just how shameless the opposition was, willing to take a bullet just to eliminate his adversary.

    "Hahaha, it''s just a joke,e on, don''t take it so seriously! If I were to send my resume to your side, would you ept it?"

    Chen Fei ejected the magazine and pped his hands together.

    System: Ding! Absorption of Alloy Body 790 grams,ponent ratio: Iron 84%¡­

    Physical Evolution Database (441), Category: Cold Weapon (7), Tool (95), essory (339)/Manage...

    "¡­"

    Vice President Todd Philip really wanted to refuse, but he simply didn''t have the nerve, nor the courage to agree, his face going from red to white.

    A talent reckless with human life is still a talent; if ced in the correct position, there would be no worry about his uncontroble nature.

    The other delegates were shocked by Chen Fei''s shameless remarks.

    Damn, killing the other side''s director and then asking to submit a resume.

    Is that even something a human does?!!!

    Ah?!

    Thete Colonel William Everson: ¡­ It snows!

    Manager Hanna Gagar continued to cover her face. When the Rookie has no shame, there''s no bottom line.

    "Hmph!~"

    After countless thoughts whirled through his head and finally sorting it out, one page of a job application was basically no different than a harsh p to the face. Vice President Todd Philip grimaced bitterly and walked away.

    Initially, he had nned to speak at the start of the meeting, but now, he didn''t even want to stay a moment longer.

    Hanna Gagar shook her head. Chen Fei''s words were a jest from the start. It would have been another matter if he were a temporary contractor, which could be dismissed on the same day, but he was under a formal employment contract; it wasn''t so easy to casually submit resumes elsewhere.

    There is a use called nonpete agreement in this world after all; jumping ship isn''t so simple.

    The tent meeting area returned to calm.

    Time: 9:30

    The representative from the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Ahem! Now, let''s begin the meeting! Please, take your seats."

    The body of Colonel William Everson, Director of Operations for the Meman Brothers Consortium, was carried out.

    Life ends and tea cools down; for capitalists, while alive, there''s exploitative value; when dead, they''re worthless and just getting a deration of death in the line of duty is giving face, as any issue that money can solve is not a problem at all.

    Old soldiers who burst into the tent gave Manager Hanna several hand signals to show they were ready at a moment''s notice, then looked around and finally, under the surveince of others, withdrew, staying not far from the tent, fully armed and on alert.

    Most of the delegates acted as if nothing had happened, taking their seats, with only Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar''s vicinity still emptily visible. Delegates would rather squeeze together or add seats than get close to the two.

    The speaker from the Joint Defense Committee spoke from the stage, but the manager was in no mood to listen, quietly reprimanding Chen Fei beside her.

    "Rookie, you''re too bold, daring to kill a director of the Meman Brothers Consortium!"

    Like father, like son, the young deserve a beating, the old deserve death, but you shouldn''t be so tantly ruthless in front of everyone,

    Why not just do it behind the back, where it can look decent for everyone?

    "I didn''t dare!"

    Chen Fei covered his face, feeling extremely upset.

    He didn''t know what was wrong with him, suddenly bing so violent and ready to take lives.

    Back in the day, he was aw-abiding good boy who hadn''t even killed a chicken.

    Who would have thought that since joining the Aircrew Base, his true nature was revealed, increasingly disregarding human life.

    Now that he had calmed down, he started to feel inexplicably nervous and uneasy.

    -

 Chapter 139: Section 139 - Intelligence Sharing

    Chen Fei fell into self-me and confusion, but Hanna Gagel could quite understand it.

    "Everyone is born with a purpose, and even more so with special abilities. Escape is not an option; with poweres responsibility, which is the mission bestowed by the heavens."

    Indeed, any supernatural power user would find it difficult to adapt to the changes in their social role after the initial awakening.

    Take for example a butcher who suddenly awakens to a healing special ability. After healing someone''s wounds, he''s likely to reflexively consider whether he should dismember a femur to sell, perhaps to make a nutritious soup for them¡ªsuch a fine femur!

    Logically, there''s nothing wrong with that line of thought, given that skinning and butchering are part of his professional habits.

    But in reality, such an idea is utterly perverse and anti-human.

    Especially for rookies like these who haven''t received any guidance or assistance and are non-sensitive to Supernatural Ability Suppressants, the effects are evidently not so good.

    Hanna Gagel, also a supernatural power user, even wanted to personally mentor Chen Fei for a while, helping him smoothly get through the adaptation period and gain initial control of his powers. She even asked the old Neanderthal Barut for help.

    But... the old man died in battle, and corporate war broke out.

    The executive manager had neither the energy nor the time to care for the rookie. Chen Fei was also inevitably pulled into the battlefield, with no time to refine his abilities, and oh, there was also that troublesome Dog System¡ªadding to the headache.

    Fortunately, his awakened Metal Elemental Psychic Power was heavilybat-oriented, which made him thrive in corporate warfare. He didn''t perish due to inadequate skill control post-initial awakening.

    However, such barbaric growth meant that even if his powers wouldn''t be uncontrolled, the adaptation period was likely to be prolonged.

    Seeing Chen Fei still troubled by his "inner demons" and unable to calm his emotions for a long time, Hanna Gagel said, "When the corporate war ends, I''ll give you a half-year supply of Supernatural Ability Suppressant, which should be 12 doses."

    Under normal circumstances, the effects of one dose of Supernatural Ability Suppressant canst a month.

    But for someone with a non-sensitive physique like Chen Fei, a dose every half month is at least needed.

    Time is the best psychological cure, and surely, after half a year, he should be able to adapt to the series of changes that the Metal Elemental Psychic Power has brought to his life.

    "Does it cost anything?"

    Chen Fei was instantly no longer conflicted.

    He almost forgot his debts were still unpaid; he couldn''t afford to add to his troubles.

    As the saying goes, money talks can hurt feelings, but he didn''t want to have an emotional conversation with that one-eyed old hag at all!

    "Ugh!"

    Watching the young man''s spirits flip like the turning of a page, clearly not in need of any suppressants, the executive manager, who had already spoken, found herself in a misjudgement and, with no choice left, said helplessly, "It''s free!"

    Damn it, it was like feeding a dog!

    So frustrating...

    "That''s really great!"

    Chen Fei pped his hands together; he loved free stuff the most.

    The 12 doses of Supernatural Ability Suppressant should help suppress that Dog System.

    Chen Fei was full of resentment towards the system that suddenly appeared in his mind.

    "Sigh..."

    The executive manager, feeling anxious, scratched her head king with dandruff.

    She shouldn''t bring up money with this rookie; as soon as money is mentioned, he forgets everything.

    "Manager Hanna from Aircrew Base 911, please introduce to everyone your encounter with Mutant BC-2325."

    Suddenly, someone on the podium called out the executive manager''s name.

    "Ah!"

    Hanna Gagel then refocused her attention back to the conference.

    To her surprise, she found that several strangely shaped creature sketches were being holographically projected behind the podium, representing the four varieties of Mutant BC-2325: Big Latch, Hardshell, Rapid Stinger, and Flyers.

    With data from both Aircrew Base 911 and 912, the Global United Defense Committee quickly established detailed archives for the newly discovered mutant species and synchronized thetest intelligence with various military contractors.

    The Joint Defense Committee representative on stage, with a face full of frustration, knew that the people from Aircrew Base 911 had been distracted and hadn''t been listening at all.

    He hit the podium forcefully, suppressing his emotions and said, "Manager Hanna, this is a very important meeting, please pay attention."

    The folks from Merman Brothers Consortium were steaming with anger!

    So, it wasn''t their people who got wiped out, but those from 911, right?

    They must be secretly delighting in others'' misfortune; yes, that must be it!

    "Uh, could you repeat the previous part again? I didn''t catch it clearly."

    Hanna Gagel was also embarrassed¡ªall because of that rookie. She wanted to kick him out; he was not only an eyesore but also troublesome.

    "We need to know the encounter of Aircrew Base 911 with Mutant BC-2325, preferably in detail."

    With no other choice, the Joint Defense Committee representative let out a long sigh and had to repeat.

    "For this question, it''s best to let the person from the 911 incident exin it to everyone personally. Rookie,e up and tell everyone about the whole process."

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel passed a look to Chen Fei beside her.

    "No problem!"

    Chen Fei stood up.

    Public speaking, huh? No pressure at all.

    Then he asked the presenter on stage, "Do I need toe up, or can I just speak from here?"

    The representative of the Joint Defense Committee immediately pointed to the stage.

    "Pleasee up here!"

    Hearing it from the person involved is naturally the most valuable firsthand information. The Aircrew Base 912 had been wiped out not long ago, and the people from Aircrew Base 911 were almost the only survivors.

    Chen Fei confidently walked up to the stage, all eyes converging on him, each face aplex mix of emotions, all the while cursing internally.

    So it''s this brash kid!

    He didn''t get eaten by those bugs¡ªno justice in this world!

    "Hey! Hi everyone... My name is Chen Fei!"

    Chen Fei cleared his throat, almost misspeaking.

    Everyone''s faces in the venue turned ugly, as they simultaneously hallucinated (Hey! What''s up, sissies...), with Manager Hanna being no exception, her forehead creased in frustration.

    This kid''s arrogance had just been too much, and now, the sudden change in tone caught everyone off guard, and it took them a while to adjust.

    "...My name is Chen Fei. I had a direct encounter with Mutant BC-2325 a week ago..."

    Chen Fei was sweating bullets from his forehead, almost blurting out "If you don''t agree with me,e and fight me!"

    This was just too wicked!

    He quickly forced himself to concentrate and continued detailing his experience with those mutant creatures from beginning to end.

    He even demonstrated the evolution of the White Steel Crowbar with sound effects, point, stab, poke, knock, smash, pry... His Bug Beating Stick Technique of eighteen moves had already reached an advanced level, every swing fierce and powerful.

    The faces of the delegates below paled, and they instinctively leaned back in their seats, silently praying that the hotheaded young man would soon finish his Divine Skills before identally smashing someone''s brains out.

    Scary as hell.

    With spit flying and gestures aplenty, after more than ten minutes of animated talking, Chen Fei finally felt satisfied and concluded his speech.

    "We are very grateful for Mr. Chen''s detailed introduction!" the representative of the Global United Defense Committee leading the meeting quickly apuded.

    A warm round of apuse broke out in the tent, filled with the joy of survival.

    Listening to others costs money, listening to this guy could cost your life!

    Therefore, he was sent off the stage amidst apuse.

    The meeting continued, and next up was someone from Merman Brothers Consortium to share thetest intelligence and research findings.

    After the annihtion of Aircrew Base 912, the Merman Brothers Consortium immediately started an investigation, spending considerable man-hours and resources, and to this day, the investigation was still ongoing.

    After investing so much time and effort, the rewards were indeed substantial, even moreprehensive and detailed than what Aircrew Base 911 knew.

    Before Hanna Gagel personally led a team to investigate Chen Fei''snding site, the Merman Brothers Consortium had already confirmed that these mutants originated from underground.

    Between Aircrew Base 912 and 911, there existed an extremelyplex underground space structure, the perfect hiding ce for mutants.

    If it hadn''t been for the financially robust Merman Brothers Consortium purchasing satellite remote sensing services and various geological detection devices, they wouldn''t have been able to draw such a remarkable underground space structure map.

    Due to theplex nature of the underground environment and the limited precision of detection, the map was notpletely wless, but obtaining so much information in such a short time was already quite a feat.

    "...ording to analysis by the Harrison Biological Research Institute of the American Federation, the gene fragments of Mutant BC-2325 contain characteristics of Hive gene fragments. However, it is currently impossible to determine whether it is a solitary ormunal Hive, and hopefully, it''s not thetter."

    In addition to the biologicalbs of the Global United Defense Committee, the Merman Brothers Consortium alsomissioned other professional biologicalbs to perform a gic sequence analysis.

    Theplete gene sequence was sourced from Aircrew Base 911.

    Even though corporate warfare had not ended, intelligence sharing regarding mutants remained bidirectionally transparent, with both parties holding nothing back.

    Although mutant creatures are diverse, they can still be divided into solitary and social types, with further ssification ording to their social structures into categories such as individual, Hive, symbiotic, and associated.

    A Hive implies a breeding female with a professional role, often capable of an astonishing number of offspring, and amunal Hive suggests that there are at least two such females, with no upper limit, easily forming a terrifyinglyrge troop.

    The reason why Blue Star Humans dominate this is not only their skill at making and using tools, their establishment of an extensive andplex social division ofbor and a brilliant civilization, but also a critical factor is their group numbers.

    The poption base ensures the dominance of humans; if there were only a couple of kittens, even interster warships wouldn''t make them the sovereign species of the.

    Building on thetest intelligence presented by the Merman Brothers Consortium, the representative of the Global United Defense Committee steered the meeting to its core issue.

    "Find the Hive''s stronghold and destroy them!"

    -

 Chapter 140: Section 140 - For the Sake of All Humanity, I Enlist

    The ecological structure of the hive is sufficient to spawn a powerful collective.

    However, the core of the hive, the mother itself, is often very fragile¡ªa single automatic rifle or a hand grenade might easily kill the mother capable of giving birth to countless mutant creatures.

    A representative of the Global United Defense Committee hammered home, "We need volunteers to form reconnaissance teams to prate these underground spaces and locate the mutant hives!"

    The situation beneath the surface is simply tooplex, fissures and caves everywhere; it is not possible, nor feasible, to plow through them one by one with ground-prating bombs.

    Moreover, the geological structure of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area simply does not permit such tampering; any geological disaster provoked would likely leave the Global United Defense Committee to me.

    A delegate raised their hand and said loudly, "There must be mages or ability users involved, right?"

    It is almost certain death for ordinary people to participate in such a dangerous reconnaissance mission.

    "Preferably those with space abilities, followed by those with earth, and if not, dark and wind will also do."

    "Yes, the higher the level of the space abilities, the better. If there''s any emergency, they can return to the surface immediately."

    "It would be even better if there are specific advanced magical weapons."

    The underground situation isplex and uncertain; no one truly knows what to expect.

    The dangeres not only from mutant creatures but also fromplex terrain and even the poisonous gas pervading the underground spaces. If utterly unprepared, these deadly threats could easily cost someone their life.

    "We will try our best to coordinate these," assured another delegate.

    Even the representatives of the Global United Defense Committee dared not make firm promises.

    Light, dark, spirit, and space are among the rarer abilities in the eleven systems, appearing in maybe one out of a thousand ability users. The other elements¡ªgold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning¡ªbelong to the natural elements series and areparativelymon in any ability system.

    As rarity conveys value, ability users and mages with these four types of powers are less likely to risk their lives to join such dangerous reconnaissance missions.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium did have a dark elemental psychic, but s... they were taken out by someone from the Neanderthal tribe at the Aircrew Base, the old man Barut.

    At this moment, the Merman Brothers Consortium had no options left. They certainly couldn''t seek revenge from the old man who had been reduced to ashes.

    The female executive manager of Aircrew Base 911, Hanna Gagel, sat with her arms folded, maintaining a stoic silence throughout the proceedings.

    Locating and eliminating the mutants is a straightforward statement and also the duty of all air bases and military contractors. There''s money to be made and work to be done; otherwise, how would one justify receiving generous pensions and huge rebates from arms purchases, not to mention the hefty windfall from collecting biological materials?

    However, from the start of the meeting, it was clear that Aircrew Base 911 did not fit in at all with these peers, and they simply weren''t ying the same game!

    So, it was better to keep silent. You y by yourselves, leave me out of it.

    Thinking this, Hanna Gagel''s eyelids began drooping heavily again. Had she known the meeting would be so boring, it would have been better to go back to sleep.

    Sleepy...

    "Manager Hanna from Aircrew Base 911, I''ve heard you''re a wind-type ability user. Could you contribute to the reconnaissance team?"

    The delegate from the Global United Defense Committee did not intend to let this sleep-deprived, progressively listless female executive manager off the hook, and their gaze turned toward her again.

    Making trouble, not fitting in¡ªthe representative of Aircrew Base 911 had not left a good impression in the eyes of the Global United Defense Committee.

    A peculiar gleam passed through the eyes of some delegates, not all of whom were aware that this one-eyed woman was also an ability user.

    "Ah! Sorry, I''m very busy; I don''t have the time."

    That same old saying: when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Hanna Gagel could only apologize.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group was of no use, utterly unreliable; only Aircrew Base 911 was left. To scout the underground spaces was truly inordinately difficult.

    System: Ding! Mutant Hive BC-2325 located, received +500 Energy Points!

    System: Ding! Killed the breeding mother of Mutant BC-2325, received +1000 Energy Points!

    Chen Fei, whose mind was wandering, suddenly jerked with a start as the consecutive dings seemed to ring right in his ear, making all the hairs on his body stand on end.

    Here ites! Herees this timely dog system!

    He just knew that this dog system wouldn''t leave him alone, it was right there waiting for him!

    Afterpleting several missions in a row, Chen Fei had begun to hash out some experience; the higher the reward of energy points, the greater the difficulty and the risk.

    So this dog system wouldn''t rest until it killed him.

    "I volunteer!~~"

    Chen Fei leaped up, shattering the long conference table in front of him with a p of his hand.

    His strength seemed to be growing.

    A few months ago, had he even smashed his hand to bits, he couldn''t have hoped to shatter this table, let alone turn it into pieces.

    "..."

    The female executive manager turned mechanically, staring at Chen Fei in disbelief.

    She had resolved not to meddle; they said they needed space, earth, dark, and wind ability users, so why was a metal ability user like him jumping in?

    The conference room fell silent, surprised expressions spreading among many faces. Indeed, there were some brave souls.

    The delegates who initially held a negative view of Chen Fei couldn''t help but admire him at this point. He might be rash, but his courage wasmendable. Being able to step up at a critical moment meant he could certainly be considered talented, no matter how it was put.

    The vice president of Merman Brothers Consortium, Todd Philip, watched Chen Fei thoughtfully, pondering whether he should mention something to the HR department if Chen really submitted his resume.

    Hanna Gagel tugged at Chen Fei''s sleeve and whispered a reminder, "Rookie, sit down. What are you meddling in?"

    "Manager Hanna, I feel that eradicating mutants is the duty and responsibility of every human being. As long as there is an opportunity, everyone should contribute their share of effort."

    Chen Fei, who had just made up this "righteous and stern" deration, was rapidly gaining impression points in the minds of the representatives in attendance.

    This nice statement, mua!

    Favorability +1!

    Favorability +1!

    Favorability +1!

    ¡­

    Achievement unlocked: Although this person is brutal and ruthless, his nature isn''t bad!

    The representative from the Global United Defense Committee, who was chairing the meeting, tentatively said, "Mr. Chen Fei, I hope you''re not acting on impulse. This reconnaissance mission is truly dangerous, and mere passion and courage are far from enough."

    The danger he mentioned wasn''t a scare tactic but genuine peril. A reconnaissance team can''t have pig teammates or rash warriors, as there were countless examples of one person dragging down the entire team.

    Chen Fei waspletely unaware that he was being associated with the word "rash" in others'' eyes. After all, wasn''t he a bona fide university graduate?

    University graduates in this era were the elite; they couldn''t just rely on being headstrong to be elites.

    Chen Fei proudly said aloud, "I am also a Metal Ability User, skilled in repairing nes and shooting them down. My kill records include a Metallic Giant Dragon and several enemy aircraft."

    The investigation team from Sky Dragon City on Cangqiong Star hade to investigate the whereabouts of the Heart Core of the Metallic Giant Dragon, Bit, and also to verify the legality of the killing process. It meant that the process was officially approved, and the person involved could proudly boast about this achievement without fear of retaliation from the Dragon n.

    Breaking the rules and invading, and then getting beaten to death, it was simply their own fault, and the same logic applied everywhere.

    As for how many enemy nes Chen Fei had shot down, he hadn''t counted nor checked. He guessed he''d only find out when he received his pay statement, but since it wasn''t enough to pay off his debts, he didn''t bother to distress himself over it.

    Hanna Gagel helplessly massaged her forehead and sighed, unable to bear looking directly.

    You, this tender green rookie, have only flown a ne for a few hours, more than sixty hours or not?

    What they''re talking about now is an underground reconnaissance mission. What do your aplishments have to do with that?

    Could it be that someone with a big appetite for danger intends to drive a fighter ne underground?

    What good is that!

    She really wanted to pin this clueless kid to the ground...

    The representatives from the Aircrew Base and military contractors at the venue began to realize the significance and couldn''t help but take a few more nces at Chen Fei, to remember this young man with outstanding achievements.

    The news of a Metallic Giant Dragon falling in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area had caused quite a sensation, and many military contractors were secretly envious of the good fortune of the Apocalypse Defense Group. Its subsidiary had achieved such a great feat, and the substantial profits included in their takings were enough to eat until they were full to bursting.

    Now that they had finally met the pilot who killed the Metallic Giant Dragon, such a fierce temper waspletely justified.

    It perfectly matched the phrase, "fight fire with fire."

    However, the representative of the Global United Defense Committee had an embarrassed expression, as he and the executive manager Hanna Gagel were thinking almost exactly the same thing.

    This is an underground mission, not even a surface one; what is a pilot doing sticking his nose into this?

    And also a Metal Elemental Psychic Power user, is he going underground to mine?

    A considerable number of Metal Ability Users in society work in the fields of metallurgy and mechanical processing, being Industrial Espers, few of whom survive in the military sector.

    Not just Metal Elemental Psychic Power, but most supernatural powers stand little chance against modern weaponry with significant firepower.

    Even if light weapons can be ignored, what about heavy artillery? Missiles? High explosives? Cloud Bombs? Poison Gas Bombs? Directed-energy Weapons?

    Infrasound Cannons? Electromaic Railguns? ... There''s always some weapon suitable against supernatural power users.

    If Chen Fei had awakened his Metal Elemental Psychic Power before reporting to the Aircrew Base No. 911, he would have turned back without a second thought, living as an Industrial Esper with a regr nine-to-five job, happy and content.

    With a debt of 5 million Star Yuan, sooner orter he could pay it off; the loanpany couldn''t force him to sign a rigid contract with the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    But now, not only was he increasingly in debt, there was another reason that was causing him a major headache.

    The tasks from the Dog System were all deadly. This damned system was quickly turning Chen into an expert at courting death. If he went back to being an industrial worker, he might be driven to perform various styles of diving into the roaring steel furnace.

    Honestly, he didn''t have the guts for that!

    Whenpared, machine guns and missiles seemed a bit more lovable. Although painful, Chen didn''t have the slightest desire to learn how steel was made.

    "Um, could you reconsider it?"

    No matter what Chen Fei was thinking, the representative from the Global United Defense Committee was treating it as a moment of rashness and kindly offered him a way out, also as a gesture of enlightenment.

    After all, it was inappropriate!

    Ignoring the continual imploring looks from the executive manager, Chen resolutely said, "No, I won''t reconsider, I''m signing up."

    Dog System! I''ve got my eyes on those Energy Points!

    "Then we''ll give it some thought."

    The representative from the Global United Defense Committee was almost ready to surrender.

    Would you, this meddlesome pilot, please stop causing trouble here!

    -

 Chapter 141: Section 141 - Leave Early

    ```

    It is always difficult to begin, but the pilots from the Aircrew Base 911 registered on the spot (to cause trouble), which effectively broke the ice, prompting the other military contractors to stop pretending they hadn''t heard.

    Even pilots, who had no professional alignment with the operation, were eagerly signing up, so if the others didn''t show any interest, they woulde across as insensitive, especially since everyone relied on the Global United Defense Committee for their livelihoods.

    However, even a giant within the top ten of the industry like the Merman Brothers Consortium, only had a handful of Ability Users under their wing, and Aircrew Base 911 had wiped out most of them.

    Aircrew Base 911 was truly an anomaly, with Old Master Barut guarding the Energy Tower; he was here to retire, counting his days by his fingers, usually harmless to humans and livestock alike, and no one cared about his former identity as a Neanderthal Elite Warrior.

    With his old arms and legs, even if he could fight, it was doubtful how effective he would be, and his sry wasn''t high, so he was considered a regr employee, not counted amongst the powerful. Then there was the Wind-type Ability User, Hanna Gagel, who came to take on the role of executive manager, a managerial position.

    Following that was the Rookie, Chen Fei, who had an Awakening of Special Abilities like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

    Back then, the Merman Brothers Consortium, convinced they had the advantage, ran headlong into Aircrew Base 911 at the peak of their glory with three Ability Users, took a violent beating, and left with bloodied faces without a ce to seek justice until this day.

    Today, with two supernatural power users stationed at one Aircrew Base, and with an abundance of supplies and plenty of money, this was Manager Hanna Gagel''s biggest assurance in her decision to lead Aircrew Base 911 out of the Apocalypse Defense Group.

    Even without Chen Fei, with just her alone as the Wind-type Ability User in charge, it was more than enough.

    You see, not every Aircrew Base, let alone every military contractor, had the luxury of supernatural power users at their disposal. Even the once 27th ranked Apocalypse Defense only had Hanna Gagel, with no second Ability User to speak of.

    Because it was not easy to support Ability Users, the average military contractor couldn''t afford it, which is why there weren''t many names called out onsite, usually just one or two from eachpany, and most of them were not even their own employees.

    It was expected that they would rely on their extensivework of connections, paying a significant price in favors to enlist the help of these Ability Users.

    The preliminary list of registrations was nothing more than an intention, without even names, and no one could guarantee those Ability Users would be willing to join this high-risk mission.

    In the end, it had to rely on the Global United Defense Committee to lead and coordinate this reconnaissance mission.

    As soon as the meeting ended, the representatives pulled out their phones, dialing as they walked out of the tented meeting area, chattering away on calls outside.

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel''s face remained grim as she grabbed Chen Fei by the neck and dragged him away.

    Chen Fei cried out, "Wait, Manager Hanna, let''s talk this over, a gentleman uses words, not force."

    Of course, he knew his "reckless courage" must have angered the One-Eyed olddy, and he quickly considered which posture to adopt for the impending punishment.

    "Fine, then. We''ll use words, not force. Come on, join me for a drink!"

    Manager Hanna maintained her overwhelming aura, without rxing her grip.

    "Drink...drink?"

    Chen Fei was thoroughly puzzled; what kind of tricky maneuver was this?

    Not beating him up?

    Just having a drink?

    He didn''t believe for a second that this One-Eyed olddy would be so tender-hearted, recalling how Chekhov Big Bear had cried out when mauled by Manager Hanna, a sight to behold and quite satisfying to witness.

    The veterans who surrounded the pair were confused: it was only noon; why were they drinking already?

    Could it be that the meeting went so well, Aircrew Base 911 came into great fortune, hence the celebration with drinks? Yet looking at both their faces, they showed not a hint of joy.

    One was restless, while the other bore a dark countenance; some would believe it more likely they had suffered a great loss rather than reaped any benefit.

    As it turned out, Chen Fei was overthinking it¡ªManager Hanna actually did want to drink.

    They downed bottles of Big Mao''s 75 proof "Water of Life," and with a few cans opened as simple apaniments, the meal wasplete.

    "Here''s one!"

    Hanna Gagel clinked her bottle with Chen Fei''s.

    ```

    He tilted his head back, and with two big gulps, guzzled the drink. He gasped for air twice, and his one eye immediately reddened.

    "Come on!"

    Risking life to apany ady, a big man can''t show cowardice. Chen Fei braced himself, eyes opened wide, then closed, and downed two big gulps as well, decreasing the liquid level in the bottle by a fifth.

    Oh boy! Two ounces of alcohol, both downed in one go.

    "Cough cough cough!"

    Chen Fei choked and coughed uncontrobly, even tears came streaming down.

    The "water of life" burned like fire, scorching his heart, liver, lungs, and stomach enough to be overwhelming. His face flushed crimson, and he quickly stuffed a few bites of food to fight the burn.

    Freaking hell, drinking like this is asking for death!

    Chen Fei considered himself to have a good alcohol tolerance, but even he couldn''t withstand such a drinking method.

    In contrast, Manager Hanna only had reddened eyes, herplexion as usual, with a calm demeanor, as if she were drinking water instead of alcohol.

    "Another round!"

    The executive manager didn''t even bother with appetizers, grabbed the bottle, and looked ferociously scary.

    "Ah! Okay! Manager Hanna, don''t you want to line your stomach a bit first..."

    "Cheers!"

    Fuck... This one-eyed old dame must be out of her mind!

    ...

    "Hiss..."

    Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes, suddenly inhaled sharply as the splitting headache from the hangover hit him like a wave, making him grimace in pain.

    He found himself lying on the bed in the guestroom at Aircrew Base 912, fully clothed and reeking of alcohol.

    If he wasn''t mistaken, he must have cked out, and the veterans must have carried him back to the room and dumped him on the bed.

    Surviving two bottles of the "water of life" per person was a feat in itself; cking out was trivial inparison.

    "Damn it!"

    Chen Fei couldn''t help butin.

    Manager Hanna seemed to have gone crazy, forcibly making him guzzle the drinks.

    Even with appetizers to buffer the effects and subdue the potency of the alcohol, his head couldn''t resist such a manner of drinking.

    Fragmented memories started to resurface gradually as the drunkenness faded.

    "Hiss, I can''t take it anymore, drank... drank too much."

    "A man never says he can''t take it. Come on, drink with me!"

    "Ha, Manager Hanna, let''s... let''s not drink like this, okay?"

    "No way! Today, we drink until we drop, and anyone who tries to desert will be chopped into eight pieces!"

    "Why?!"

    "I''m afraid I''ll submit a resume to the Merman Brothers Consortium."

    "I, I was just, just kidding, okay!"

    "I took it seriously!"

    "I gotta..."

    "Drink up! Or I''ll cut you, be careful!"

    "I wouldn''t dare, wouldn''t dare!"

    ...

    Careless talk leads to trouble, Chen Fei thought, shaking his head. He got up with a wobble, showered, and changed into fresh clothes before he managed to put himself together.

    Thump thump thump!

    Someone was pounding on the door.

    The force was considerable, starkly different from normal knocking.

    "Rookie, open up!"

    Oh! It''s Manager Hanna''s voice.

    "I''ming..."

    Chen Fei hadn''t finished speaking when he heard a crack, and the door, three fingers thick, split into eight pieces.

    He gasped in shock, relieved he hadn''t been standing behind the door, or he would''ve been another addition to those eight pieces.

    Manager Hanna was just that impatient.

    "Manager Hanna, is there an emergency?"

    Chen Fei immediately became alert and looked past the executive manager.

    "Departure, back to 911!"

    Hanna Gagel''s face was calm, seemingly unaffected by the hangover.

    "This early?"

    Chen Fei saw that outside, it was still dark.

    What time was it now?

    Picking up his mobile phone, he saw it was only 4:30 in the morning.

    If he hadn''t been drunk for a day and a night, he should have slept for about ten hours or so.

    Even if going back to the Aircrew Base 911, shouldn''t we wait for daylight before leaving?

    Executive Manager Hanna Gagel said concisely, "Long night, many dreams! You have ten minutes."

    "Understood! I''ll pack up right away!"

    Chen Fei turned and went back into his room to pack his things.

    Lucky he had freshened up upon waking; otherwise, the terrible odor would have been too bad.

    Unable to wash his dirty clothes, he stuffed them all into his luggage bag in a rush.

    When Chen Fei followed the executive manager to the tarmac, the veterans and the small transport ne had already been waiting for a while.

    Effortlessly opening the cockpit canopy, Chen Fei climbed into the front seat, tossed his luggage bag in the back, and had just fastened his seatbelt when the aircraft suddenly sank. Turning his head, he saw Manager Hanna had also climbed in and casually threw his luggage bag on the backseat out as if it was worthless trash.

    Chen Fei: "... (My clothes)"

    You high-borndy, oblivious to themoner''s plight, some of those clothes could''ve been worn again if they were washed!

    Hanna Gagel didn''t even bother to give the luggage bag another nce and said in an unfluctuating tone, "Takeoff!"

    Alright then!

    You''re the manager, your word isw!

    Chen Fei helplessly pulled down the cockpit canopy and started the ignition.

    He wouldn''t let the fact that the other person was his drinking buddy lead him to make assumptions with thoughts like "I thought" and such.

    Their rtionship wasn''t actually that close, so it was better to not be too na?ve.

    As an adult, he understood these social nuances.

    An employee who thinks they can get ahead with the boss because they''ve shared a few more drinks, while forgetting their ce, is a foolish child bound to suffer big losses in the workce sooner orter.

    There were no takeoff ornding operations on the main runway of Aircrew Base 912. "Big Mouth Monster", after warming up the engine, slid directly onto it, followed by the small transport ne the veterans boarded.

    Chen Fei steadily pushed the throttle while carefully asking, "Manager Hanna! May I ask why we can''t wait for daylight to depart?"

    "I''m going fishing!"

    Hanna Gagel reclined in the pilot seat,pletely rxed.

    "Uh! Who''s the bait?"

    Chen Fei was startled.

    "You!"

    "Ah!?"

    With a pull on the control stick, "Big Mouth Monster" lifted its nose and took off from the ground.

    Following close behind was the small transport ne.

    The roaring engines of the two ascending aircraft woke many people.

    -

 Chapter 142: Section 142 - Following

    The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee had borrowed the Aircrew Base 912 for a meeting that actuallysted only half a day, and it officially ended after the reconnaissance squad registration forms were collected.

    However, the personnel from Aircrew Base 911 didn''t even say goodbye, and left before dawn, which surprised many people.

    Although unexpected, it was also reasonable.

    Aircrew Base 911 and several aircrew bases under the Merman Brothers Consortium were engaged in corporate warfare, and the meeting at Aircrew Base 912 was held right in enemy territory.

    The fact that personnel from 911 had attended the meeting was already a disy of great courage, as there were fears that the Merman Brothers Consortium might take hostile actions secretly; therefore, their hasty departure was somewhat understandable.

    Felt slighted as if suspecting honorable men of dishonesty, the people from the Merman Brothers Consortium were quite upset. Were they really so unprincipled?

    "Damn it, how dare they disregard the rules of Jianghu."

    Hearing the asional false rm-like brief notification sounds from the early warning system, Chen Fei knew that his "Big Mouth Monster" had been targeted.

    There was an enemy at the rear, maintaining a careful distance.

    At this critical moment, it was highly likely not a false rm, but rather the cunning enemy using theplex terrain of the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area to hang far back.

    On the way to the meeting, the Merman Brothers Consortium refrained from attacking due to concerns about the Global United Defense Committee, but on the return trip, they might not be so courteous and let the opponent''s executive easily return to her base amid corporate warfare.

    Any fool knew that if Hanna Gagel could be eliminated, the corporate war could be dered over.

    Although the Merman Brothers Consortium had suffered countless losses in manpower, resources, and finances, at least they would have regained their reputation.

    Silver can be earned again.

    But once reputation is lost, it is truly gone forever, with no chance of recovery.

    "Don''t take it lightly, 221, begin to separate and see which side they will pursue."

    The female executive manager in the rear cockpit called out to the light transport aircraft following them.

    For the daughter of a wealthy family, especially one who''s a shareholder in a military contracting firm, handling guns and bombs wasmonce, and she was no stranger to the A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft; she even had more flight hours than Chen Fei.

    "221, acknowledged, moving out of formation!"

    The response came from one of the twin pilots, the elder "Octagon" Ethan Karna.

    221 was the paint number of the light transport aircraft, which immediately yawed and flew in another direction.

    The seasoned soldiers in the hold immediately started preparing; after all, a transport aircraft could also be turned into a porcupine, and individual weapons could certainly be useful. There were plenty of hands avable within the hold.

    "Climb, altitude 7500 meters."

    Chen Fei gently pulled back on the control stick, and the "Big Mouth Monster" gracefully lifted its nose and climbed higher.

    Manager Hanna''s fishing tactic didn''t care about the unidentified flying objects following them. If the enemy followed the light transport aircraft, then Chen Fei''s 211 would stealthily maneuver around to pounce from behind.

    If the enemy dared to follow the 211 straight up, that was even better¡ªa clear and open fight was just what they wanted.

    Although Chen Fei''s flying hours could not match those of Manager Hanna in the back seat, hisbat prowess had been proven without a doubt in previous fierce air battles, both in terms of kills and survival rates.

    The "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron''s eye for selecting pilots was also beyond question.

    "Weapons systems are now programmed."

    The voice of the female executive manager, acting as the Fire Control Operator, came over, indicating unexpected yet perfect coordination.

    "It''s just machine gun bullets, what''s there to program...uh!"

    Chen Fei nced at the instrument panel and just noticed that the wing station interface was disying missiles ready for activation.

    Huh?!

    Somewhat incredulous, he looked outside the cockpit. At the wing stations, the silhouette of missiles was faintly visible, not an illusion, but indeed real.

    He hadn''t noticed any missiles under the wings when boarding earlier.

    But clearly, when he had departed, the "Big Mouth Monster" hadn''t carried any missiles, not even one.

    Before reaching Aircrew Base 912, they had to stop at a public airport to send a package; carrying arms into a civilian public ce was definitely not permissible, and only drop tanks for extended range were hung under the wings to ensure basic self-defense with full machine gun belts. No other weapons were carried.

    But now...

    Seemingly guessing Chen Fei''s confusion, the executive manager, Hanna Gagel, exined, "The transport aircraft was carrying missiles, and they helped hang them before takeoff."

    "They" referred to the old soldiers who escorted the executive manager to Aircrew Base 912 for the meeting. Attaching missiles to a turboprop did not require much technical skill; they had been installed and checked while Hanna had been waking Chen Fei up.

    "This is great, we can fight!"

    Chen Fei suddenly understood.

    He had been prepared to resolve thebat with the wing-mounted machine guns, but now with missiles in hand, his chances were even better.

    Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

    The rm system started ringing continuously.

    The 211 was subject to directed illumination by fire control radar waves.

    The sneaky guys who had been following now started to be tantly obvious, clearly having learned that the executive manager of Aircrew Base 911 had not boarded the light transport aircraft but had instead entered another light turboprop attack aircraft.

    "We''ve been locked on."

    Hanna Gagel quickly reminded him.

    Chen Fei responded calmly, "Stay calm, stay calm, it''s just a lock-on, the missile hasn''t beenunched yet!"

    "If we wait for it tounch, it''ll be toote."

    The executive manager turned her head to look back and vaguely saw several pairs of wingtip lights shing.

    It was the darkest moment before dawn, and the red and green lights were exceptionally conspicuous under the cover of night. The enemy had already taken the six o''clock position, ready to attack at any moment.

    Although her flight hours exceeded those of Chen Fei, her aerialbat experience was clearly inferior to his.

    "Rookie, you''ve got two ''Big Mouth Monsters'' trailing you."

    The voice of "Cinnamon" Keller Karna, the copilot of the turboprop aircraft, came over themunication channel; he was the brother of the main pilot "Octagon" Ethan Karna.

    "Octagon" with "Cinnamon," they were real brothers.

    Because the executive manager was on Chen Fei''s Flight 211, everyone on the turboprop aircraft collectively tensed.

    "Roger that, thank you! I''m aware!"

    Chen Fei remained asposed as ever, his tone so steady it hardly seemed like that of a rookie who hadn''t evenpleted 100 hours of flight time.

    This guy is overconfident, isn''t he?!

    The executive manager secretly started to worry.

    Suddenly, Chen Fei saw several thick blue lines piercing through the fusge, shooting straight ahead.

    One, two, three, four¡ªa total of four missiles were howling in from behind.

    "Here theye! Drop the auxiliary fuel tanks, hold tight!"

    In the midst of the urgent rm, the scenery outside the cockpit suddenly whirled around wildly.

    Two auxiliary fuel tanks, filled with aviation kerosene, detached from the wings, tracing twin parabs as they fell toward the ground.

    Flight 211 instantly became much lighter and more agile.

    Hanna Gagel only managed to let out an exmation before she felt like she was thrown into the roaring waves.

    Chen Fei pulled out his specialty move, the barrel roll, to be precise, a defensive barrel roll.

    There are mainly two types of barrel rolls: one is an offensive barrel roll used to pursue the target and suppress the opponent''s maneuvering space, and the other is a defensive barrel roll to shake off pursuit.

    His strategic purpose in using the defensive barrel roll was to utilize the maneuverability of the "Big Mouth Monster" to force the enemy''sbat bombs to burn more propent, shortening their time of stay in the air and ultimately winning without a fight.

    This was the optimal solution, followed by close-range induced explosion, which carried certain risks, and the least desirable was to use the terrain to guide them into crashing into the ground or a mountain.

    The missiles were fast, but their turning ability was nowhere near that of the turboprop aircraft, and each maneuver drastically consumed their propent.

    In a defensive barrel roll maneuver, the "Big Mouth Monster" used its strengths to exploit the enemy''s weaknesses.

    "What are you doing, Rookie!"

    Thoroughly dizzy, the executive manager felt as though she had been shoved into a tumbling washing machine, suffering greatly.

    "Barrel rolling, hang in there, Manager Hanna, six more seconds!"

    However, unexpectedly, Chen Fei still appearedposed, his eyes fixed on the instrument panel.

    At this moment, the objects outside the cockpit were utterly unreliable, even the sense of bnce was deceived, and one could only firmly believe in the fighter they were in.

    Crickle-crackle, the barrel-rolling turboprop aircraft flung out a series of dazzling red light orbs, as if a celestial maiden were scattering flowers.

    The released jamming bullets not only had a strong infrared heat response but also emitted electromaic interference signals. The bright light me effect also impacted optical TV guidance.

    Boom!~

    One disorientedbat bomb collided with a jamming bullet, exploding violently in mid-air.

    The other three ran out of momentum after exhausting theirst propents and fell towards the ground feebly, bursting into mes before even hitting the ground.

    "Did we get hit?"

    Hanna Gagel felt inexplicably panicked.

    She had piloted the "Big Mouth Monster," but only for normal flights and textbook maneuvers; she had never experienced such an intense aerialbat before.

    "No! We''ve shaken off the missiles, okay, I''m getting ready to counterattack now."

    Chen Fei pushed the joystick forward, and the "Big Mouth Monster" slightly leveled out before starting a diving S-turn to face the enemy.

    Regrettably, Flight 211 hadn''t reached the ideal altitude. It had previously climbed to only 6100 meters, and the defensive barrel roll maneuver had consumed about 1000 meters of altitude. Now at only 5100 meters above the ground, it couldn''t gain any altitude advantage, greatly reducing the effectiveness of energy maneuver tactics.

    Both sides were flying mass-produced "Big Mouth Monsters," with barely any difference in performance, so the deciding factors were experience and tactics.

    Formally trained pilots had their advantages in systematic experience and steady tactics with little exposure, while wildcards had their own strengths¡ªdaring thoughts and actions, particrly fearless, not sparing even themselves when going wild.

    Chen Fei was exactly thetter type, especially daring in his tactics, often catching his opponents off guard.

    -

 Chapter 143: Section 143 - Xiao Jiu Advances in Rank

    "Locked on!"

    As Chen Fei''s voice trailed off, the aircraft shuddered and twobat bombs detached from the left and right wing pylons, trailing thick smoke as they charged toward the two enemy nes.

    The distance between the sides had just closed to 5 kilometers, with the gap shrinking at a speed of at least 200 meters per second.

    One of the advantages of ying defense for a counterattack is that the enemy was in pursuit; a simple turn would put us face-to-face with the adversary, the speeds adding up in a head-on bay sh.

    Strike first for strength, dy and incur misfortune.

    The initiative was mine, as was the advantage; an all-out blitz assault was the right move.

    For missiles, enemy aircraft meant targets delivering themselves, with head-onunch probabilities being higher than from the rear.

    The A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft had only seven hardpoints; the veterans had loaded Chen Fei''s aircraft No. 211 with four programmablebat bombs. With two auxiliary fuel tanks attached, only the centerline hardpoint remained empty.

    Thus, unlike the two enemy nes, the luxury ofunching fourbat bombs at once wasn''t attainable; the avable ammunition for aircraft No. 211 was limited to twobat bombs and 500 rounds for the wing-mounted machine gun.

    With a slight adjustment to the heads-up disy (HUD), he lightly squeezed the machine gun trigger, and a stream of tracer bullets greeted the enemy.

    Chen Fei didn''t take deliberate aim at the two nes; hence, the bullets covered the space around the enemy aircraft.

    With missiles in front and machine gun bullets from behind, it was a dire situation for them; dodge or don''t dodge, any action would only allow for a choice of two, making it inescapable.

    The opposing sides were like knights on a battlefield, initiating a head-on death charge to decide the oue; in the end, only one could survive.

    Of course, the enemy nes were not without life; when Chen Feiunched his attack, they naturally began their counterstrike. mes erupted ceaselessly from their left and right wings, and a dense stream of machine gun bullets trailing tracer pathways whirled out, followed by immediate evasive maneuvers.

    Compared to taking a hit from one or two 12.7mm caliber bullets, the threat from abat bomb was far more lethal.

    Shooting down missiles with machine guns was nothing but wishful thinking.

    If they had such a skill, Aircrew Base 911''s "Big Mouth Monsters" would have already been downed by them.

    "They''re... Careful!"

    Spotting a series of crimson bullet pathsing head-on, Executive Manager Hanna Gagar shouted out.

    In the midst of her screaming, aircraft No. 211 didn''t make a single move, not even attempting to dodge.

    The death barrage enveloped the turboprop craft the two were in; dense as hail, bullets streaked past the rear of the aircraft with the nearest tracer pathing dangerously close to scorching the edge of the cockpit canopy, narrowly missing, apanied by the whistling sound of bullets tearing through the air.

    Hanna Gagar never imagined she woulde so close to death.

    But in Chen Fei''s eyes, a series of predictive tracer lines nearly grazed the fusge of No. 211; as long as they didn''t strike the body, the oing 12.7mm caliber machine gun bullet rain was no threat.

    Dodging could actually increase the chance of being hit; better not to dodge at all.

    It all looked like a Western cowboy showdown, yet with an entirely opposite oue.

    One side appeared to be under the protection of the Goddess of Fortune,pletely unscathed.

    The other side shot wild, paying a heavy price.

    A st of blood mist erupted inside the cockpit of one "Big Mouth Monster," covering the front half of the canopy. The lead pilot in the front seat appeared to have his head blown off. A 12.7mm caliber bullet hitting the human body would shred it to pieces, and hitting the head, probably not much of the upper body would remain.

    Thebat bombs were swift to follow... A giant fireball engulfed the turboprop, and the disintegrating aircraft plummeted like a fiery meteor shower toward the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area below.

    The other enemy ne, hit by several rounds, made a desperate attempt to power through the bullet storm, dodging thebat bombs that pursued it closely.

    But smoke began to billow from the aircraft, growing thicker by the second, a clear sign of dire straits. The cockpit canopy sted off, the rear pilot ejected first, followed by the front pilots.

    The two pilots were decisive; realizing the situation was dire, they immediately abandoned the aircraft, prioritizing their lives.

    With the missile chasing too closely, no sooner had they ejected than their spinning aircraft was destroyed.

    The mes fiercelypped at one of the just-opened parachutes...

    Hopefully, this pilot''s reserve chute wasn''t faulty.

    Chen Fei piloted his No. 211 closer for a look; the opponent, head lowered, began elerating toward the ground, looking grim.

    "Where are the enemy nes?"

    The still unsettled Executive Manager finally came to her senses.

    It was one thing for her tomand a battle from the ground, but quite another to be involved in such an aerial duel firsthand; it was no surprise she was panicked and disorganized.

    "Direction 215 and direction 47!"

    Chen Fei gave her two bearings, pulling back on the throttle just enough for Manager Hanna to get a clear view.

    Hanna Gagar discerned the directions, and sure enough, she spotted two fiery descents toward the ground, along with two parachutes, one descending unusually fast, its chute not fully unfurled, and nearing the ground, uh, it hadnded.

    The pilot whose main chute was singed did eventually open his reserve. However, judging by the descent rate, the odds of survival still seemed pretty slim.

    The other ejecting pilot saw Chen Fei''s No. 211 draw near and his face instantly turned pale, almost to the point of wetting himself.

    At that moment, he was like fish on a chopping board,pletely powerless, hurriedly bringing his hands together in mid-air in a plea for mercy.

    "Rookie, don''t mess around! Fly away!"

    Hanna Gagel seriously reminded Chen Fei.

    Even in corporate warfare, it is not permitted to fire at pilots who have ejected, which is themon practice.

    Everyone might need to eject someday, and if you follow the rules, others will too.

    Of course, it''s a different story once the pilotnds.

    It''s an exception when pilots from both sides hang midair and grapple with each other.

    "I know the rules."

    Though he had never tasted pork, he had seen pigs run; even without professional training, Chen Fei knew from various movies and TV shows not to attack ejected pilots.

    With a push on the control stick, he circled around, identified his direction and location, and continued flying toward the Aircrew Base 911.

    Even though he had dropped the auxiliary fuel tank, the remaining fuel was enough for ne 211 to return.

    This time, the warning system didn''t sound again.

    -

    "Chirp!~"

    The day after Chen Fei returned to Aircrew Base 911, the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, which was in the middle of advancing in rank, finally woke up.

    Before its feathers fully regrew, the little guy looked even uglier than the ugly duckling.

    But the Little Bird didn''t care about the stubs of new feathers sprouting all over, still happily pping its tiny wings, wanting to jump onto daddy Chen Fei like always.

    The little fellow was just that clingy.

    The heap of feathers shed by Xiao Jiu wasn''t thrown away; instead, Chef Abel pieced together another Pure Light Sparrow, with ck quartz for eyes, red copper as ws, yellow jade as the beak, and stic for the body. He carefully imnted each feather, recreating the look of Xiao Jiu with such precision it was nearly indistinguishable from the real one.

    One could never have imagined that the chef had such a crafty skill.

    Chen Fei couldn''t possibly give Xiao Jiu to him, but having such a specimen with real feathers fulfilled Chef Abel''s wish. ced in his quarters, he was almost inseparable from it.

    After sessfully advancing in rank, Xiao Jiu''s feathers grew back incredibly fast; in less than half a day, they fluffed outpletely, turning it into a fuzzy little ball. Its size grew a bit, and holding it in the hand no longer felt weightless but instead had a slight heft to it.

    The Pure Light Sparrow, previously at Human Order First Rank, had be Second Rank after advancing. Such rank was exceedingly rare among its species, almost the natural ceiling for their advancement.

    To break through further, innate talent was no longer enough; external assistance was necessary.

    Upon learning that Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu had advanced in rank, executive manager Hanna Gagel specially arranged a video collection of Light-element Magical Beast casting spells, from First Rank to Ninth Rank,prehensively covering all types of spells.

    Magical Beasts have no writtennguage, and casting spells relies solely on their innate abilities andprehension; video learning is already a tremendous form of aid.

    Now that Xiao Jiu had reached the Second Rank, it had ess to more Light-based Spells and should rightfully take on more responsibility than being simply a pet that constantly seeks affection.

    Manager Hanna hoped even more that this little fellow could break through to a historic Third Rank for the Pure Light Sparrow species. At that rank, this Little Band-Aid would transform into a lifesaving Big Band-Aid.

    For Chen Fei, a Third-Rank Little Bird would no longer be a burden but rather a valuable "amulet."

    Besides eating, drinking, frolicking, and winning hearts, Little Bird now had the additional task of watching videos.

    Staring curiously at the "tutorial videos" ying on repeat on the tablet screen, Xiao Jiu seemed to barely understand; it seemed unlikely to gain any insight in a short period.

    It''s just like reading novels; even after reading a hundred thousand, you can''t necessarily pick up a pen and write one to be a novelist.

    Reading and using are fundamentally different after all.

    -

    Just as Chen Fei was estimating that the parcel sent from the public airport should have been out for delivery, he received a call from his younger sister, Chen Meng.

    "Bro! We''re rich now!"

    Good heavens, what bold words!

    Answering the call, Chen Fei responded with annoyance, "Sis, did you win the lottery? Is there 500,000 Star Yuan?"

    "It''s a package, the package! Big Bro, have you struck it rich? Sending gold and jewels to the house?"

    Suddenly, his younger sister Chen Meng lowered her voice, whispering, "It''s not from some shady source, is it?"

    She was both excited and worried at that moment.

    Several months ago, like everyone else in the family, the second brother was broke to the core, bing a debtor with millions in debt.

    But now, Chen Fei suddenly sent gold and gemstones to the house, which genuinely rmed Chen Meng, who had just received the package and opened it herself.

    Before she could even tell their parents, she hurriedly made the call, afraid that her second brother had done something terrible.

    -

 Chapter 144: Section 144 - The Final Reconnaissance List

    ```

    "That''s not how it is, the colored gems were left to me by an elderly person, they''re not anything high-end. The jade was picked up in the mountains, and the gold was extracted from abandoned electronic products. There''s nothing ill-gotten about any of them. Tell mom that the gold and gems can be used to make some jewelry for you, mom, and sister-inw, or you can wait and exchange them for cash."

    Chen Fei rified the origins and intended use of the items in the package. All together, they were worth at most two hundred thousand Star Yuan. Apart from the gold which could be converted to cash directly, it would take some effort to liquidize the other items.

    To think of getting rich off these items was pure wishful thinking.

    "Eh? Bro, how are you making so much money over there?"

    Chen Meng was very surprised.

    As a brand-new recruit at the 911 Aircrew Base, her second brother was far from being assigned any lucrative posts.

    Yet, he suddenly sent back these valuable items. It seemed like he hadn''t earned little!

    "Of course, I took on four part-time jobs, so naturally, I''ve been earning quite a lot more."

    Chen Fei counted off on his fingers: mechanic, pilot, kitchen handyman, and guard at the Energy Tower. Thebined sry from these four positions meant that paying off all his debts was just a matter of time.

    "Won''t that be very tiring?"

    His younger sister began to worry. It was her own naivete and too easily trusting others that had brought trouble to the family, forcing her second brother Chen Fei to drop out of school and go to a distant ce to work and pay off debts.

    Chen Fei replied with a smile, "It''s alright, I have food, drink, and sleep, and there''s not much to spend money on. The work is quite rxing."

    The part-time job schedules were managed perfectly to avoid any conflicts.

    In such a remote and deste ce, there weren''t many recreational activities anyway; it was better to spend more time working.

    "Second brother, take good care of yourself!"

    Little sister Chen Meng suddenly began to cry. She resolved to study hard, and once she graduated, she would make a lot of money to give her second brother Chen Fei a better life.

    "Mhm, no worries."

    After chatting with his little sister for a bit, Chen Fei hung up the phone.

    As soon as he ended the call, Little Bird flew over.

    "Jiu!~"

    Chen Fei''s world brightened up, and all he could see was a pure white.

    Well, this was getting a new skill, "shlight" (Human Order Second Rank "Light Burst sh"), a boon for photography enthusiasts.

    He rubbed his eyes continuously, unprepared for the sudden burst of light that caught him off guard and left him sh-blinded.

    "Jiu!"

    The whole world shed again for a moment.

    Chen Fei covered his eyes with one hand while fumbling around with the other, "Where are my sunsses?"

    "Jiu!"

    The brilliance of the sh had visibly weakened by arge margin.

    It was unreasonable to expect the Pure Light Sparrow''s tiny brain to possess the formidable spiritual powerparable to the Cangqiong Star Xuanyu Huang Star, the giant floating beast in the sky. Its size and brain capacity determined the strength and frequency of the spells it could cast, which had nothing to do with rank.

    After all, casting spells requires spiritual power, like the Metallic Giants, which need spiritual power to perform the Metallic Magic. Without it, they simply choose the evolutionary path of strengthening themselves.

    "Little guy, can you do it a few more times?"

    Chen Fei''s vision gradually returned to normal.

    Human Order Second Rank Light-based Spell "Light Burst sh" didn''t have direct lethal power. Even with a full-on direct sh, it would only cause temporary blindness, whose effect wasn''t even as good as a Shock Bomb since at least thetter made a noise.

    "Jiu!"

    There was another sh in front of him, and he saw it clearly. Xiao Jiu stretched its neck out quickly and made a pecking motion, and a burst of light exploded in front of its beak.

    This time, there was no blinding brightness, it just looked a bit ring.

    "Jiu!"

    Another sh came, and the brightness was nowparable to the halogen lights inside the cottage.

    "Jiu!~~~~~~"

    ```

    Little Bird emitted a series of deted trills as the spell finally ceased.

    "Light Burst sh" had shed five times, which was about its limit.

    However, what executive manager Hanna Gagar valued most about Xiao Jiu was the powerful Healing Magic "Light of Redemption," which could be cast only after ascending to the Second Rank of Human Order, potent enough to save a life at a critical moment.

    It was this spell that had snatched Chen Fei''s life back from the grasp of Lord Yama.

    "Jiu!"

    A light orb the size of a ping-pong ball condensed in front of Little Bird, emitting a soft glow, bright as a five-watt LED bulb.

    The First Rank Illumination Technique had no other effect than emitting light and thus had a very low consumption of Light Element and spirit power. For the already Second Rank Pure Light Sparrow, it was hardly a burden.

    Little shlight, Little Light Bulb, Little Band-Aid¡­ the clingy Little Bird acquired a whole host of nicknames.

    -

    While Chen Fei worked and helped Xiao Jiuprehend more spell skills, the roster for the reconnaissance mission into the mutant dens beneath the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area was finally decided.

    The various military contractors put together more than half of the personnel, and the Joint Defense Committee filled out the rest, about one-third of the spots, also inviting an A-ranked Space Series Ability User and a Second Rank Space System Mage God to oversee the operation.

    If the reconnaissance team encountered an unresolvable emergency, they would be able to use their special abilities and spells to evacuate the entire team back to the surface.

    With such assurances, the people on the list were finally able to rx and became more willing to participate in the reconnaissance.

    To be precise, it was more like an underground exploration adventure.

    However, not only did the final list include Chen Fei''s name, but it also unexpectedly contained Hanna Gagar''s name.

    The executive manager had not wanted to get involved with the reconnaissance mission at all, but times had changed, and there was a new development.

    Merman Brothers Consortium, through other military contractors as intermediaries, brought a message that if manager Hanna and Chen Fei were to participate in this reconnaissance mission, then Meman Brothers would be willing to dere an end to the corporate war and call a truce.

    This agreement would be certified and underwritten by the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee, ensuring that after manager Hanna entered the underground, Meman Brothers Consortium would not betray her trust by attacking when the Aircrew Base was headless during the 911 crisis.

    The actions of Meman Brothers Consortium were inplete ordance with business rules¡ªmilitary contractors are businessmen, not sovereign states; they cannot afford to fight to the bitter end, wrecking everything. If a business action is known to be unfeasible, it''s wise to cut losses in time.

    Despite casualties and asset losses on both sides during the corporate war, with an offered way out, they could immediately stop "bleeding money" and return to profitability, significantly reducing operational pressure.

    The reason Merman Brothers Consortium approached the Aircrew Base with the message instead of the nominal superior, Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters, was precisely because they knew that the headquarters, immersed in a quagmire of power struggles and profit grabbing, was embroiled in infighting and dragging its heels, making it impossible to respond correctly in a timely manner.

    From another perspective, it also amounted to recognizing the status and strength of the 911 Aircrew Base.

    This was a dignity earned through battle, and it naturally deserved corresponding respect.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium also had talents, who, through some of the actions taken by Hanna Gagel, deduced quite a few things and vaguely guessed her intentions.

    Rather than let the beleaguered Apocalypse Defense Group Headquarters make decisions, it was much more straightforward to deliver the message directly to the stakeholders at the 911 Aircrew Base.

    The female executive manager hesitated for a long time, and after much consideration, she eventually had no choice but to agree.

    After all, the situation was stronger than people; the on and off switch of this corporate war had always been in the hands of this industry heavyweight ranked in the top ten.

    No matter how defiantly one proimed, "War starts when the enemy says so, but it ends when we say so," such bravado was utterly useless. The 911, only a small aircrew base and not even a military contractor,cked both the qualifications and strength for equal dialogue with the adversary.

    The Apocalypse Defense Group, which should have given its full support, had been of no help from the beginning to the end. If it weren''t for some shareholders and directors helping overtly and covertly, headquarters might even havemitted some foolish actions that would drag them down.

    The isted and unsupported 911 Aircrew Base could not oust the Merman Brothers Consortium, ranked eighth in the industry¡ªthis was the stark reality.

    Despite the opponents not gaining any advantage in the previous battles, even ending up battered and heavily damaged, if the fighting continued for a few more rounds, it would be the turn of the 911 Aircrew Base to be unable to weep.

    The most capable "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had only twelve fight-ready pilot airmen left besides the twin turboprop aircraft pilots, and this included the three "Scavenger" helicopter pilots.

    Out of these twelve pilots, half were still nursing injuries.

    If each pilot were to fly a turboprop aircraft, they could only bring out 90% of the "Big Mouth Monster''s"bat effectiveness. To achieve 100%, they would need two pilots working in perfect tandem.

    Yet, a shortage of pilots was not the worst part¡ªonly five A-39B "Big Mouth" light turboprop attack nes at the 911 Aircrew Base were able to take off smoothly. That was after depleting all spare part inventories and the gains received from the 909 Aircrew Base. The mechanics had wracked their brains but couldn''t assemble another "Big Mouth."

    There were still four MiG-28 jet fighters, but the techniques and tactics of flying a jet werepletely different from those of a turboprop, and only Squadron Leader Chekhov could fully control and formbat effectiveness with them.

    Originally when the Apocalypse Defense Group chartered the "Phantom Cube-366MAX" Heavy Transport Battleship "Luo Jing Number," it brought along a massive amount of materials. But they never intended to engage in corporate warfare. The standard cargo containers'' stock of jet and turboprop parts was enough to ensure regr usage at the 911 Aircrew Base for seven to eight years.

    However, the parts were depleted in just a few battles against the Merman Brothers Consortium, leaving the rest only suitable as repair parts and not enough to assemble a new fighter ne.

    Faced with such a dire situation, the female executive manager had to bow to reality and ept the proposal of the Merman Brothers Consortium, reaching a deal to cease the corporate warfare.

    Hanna Gagel was certainly well aware that this proposition of theirs was killing two birds with one stone. Even with the protection of a space series ability user and a Mage God, there was no absolute safety. The ferocity that the Mutant BC-2325 horde had shown when sweeping through the entire 912 Aircrew Base would be amplified in their subterranean home territory.

    The Merman Brothers Consortium probably hoped that both she and Chen Fei would perish underground during this reconnaissance mission. Without its two supernatural ability users, the 911 Aircrew Base would be a toothless tiger, making the corporate war irrelevant whether it continued or not.

    -

 Chapter 145: Section 145 - A Coffin Board for Everyone

    When Chen Fei and Hanna Gagel set foot in Reconnaissance Camp No. 2, formally fulfilling their trade promises, the Merman Brothers Consortium subsequently announced the end of the corporate war.

    All parties expressed their wee, since amiable negotiations lead to prosperity, while fights to the death only result in a host of bad debts.

    The happiest of all was not the Aircrew Base 911, but the still chaotically embroiled Apocalypse Defense Group. However, their troubles were far from over.

    Dozens of shareholders had split into four factions, each having long since torn the veil of feignedradery, stirring up chaos through the board of directors which rattled the entirepany.

    Even now, with external threats gone, they did not consider stabilizing thepany anew, but rather intensified their internal feud even more fiercely.

    Viewed from another angle, the Apocalypse Defense Group had long been fraught with hidden dangers and deep contradictions, which, even without this corporate war, were bound to eruptpletely one day.

    Had it not been so, the entire corporate group should have united to face the Merman Brothers Consortium withbined strength, and even if they could not win, they should have been able to knock out a tooth or two, ensuring the enemy did not get off lightly.

    Arge military contractor ranked twenty-seventh in the industry, if determined enough, could certainly teach a painful lesson to a behemoth ranked eighth, causing financial distress that couldst for years.

    The Global United Defense Committee identified over three thousand entrances leading underground in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, of which about seven hundred were suitable for human entry, in high mountains, hills, valleys, and nds alike, almost everywhere one could find these caves leading underground.

    During wartime, these caves were the best hiding ces for the local guerris, with the then-modern firearms having little effect, especially during the years of the massive mutant outbreaks, which took tremendous effort to clear most of the essible caves.

    Still, a very small portion of the caves, situated in remote and perilous locations, have yet to be stepped foot in by humans.

    About forty-three cave entrances were located in the areas frequented by Mutant BC-2325, hence six temporary reconnaissance camps were established, forming a total of fifty-seven reconnaissance squads, some of which were mobile reserve squads tasked with search and rescue to handle emergencies.

    The operation led by the Global United Defense Committee was conducted with frighteningly high efficiency.

    In less than ten hours, a fully equipped camp rose from a wastnd, with modr buildings providing each person with their own room, the entire camp capable of amodating at least five hundred people.

    Those participating in the reconnaissance operation coulde empty-handed.

    The well-funded Joint Defense Committee had prepared everything for everyone, from socks and bedding to weapons and ammunition, everything included.

    Right next to the registration area, an old man with graying hair pulled out arge box from a neatly piled "high wall", cing it effortlessly in front of Chen Fei.

    As the box was set down, the ground trembled slightly, clearly heavy.

    "Number 74, codename ''Rookie'', this is yours!"

    Chen Fei protested, "Why is my codename still ''Rookie''? Can''t it be changed?"

    Abel on the box''s surface bore Chen Fei''s personal information and photograph.

    He had always wanted to change to a dominating, cool, and explosively awesome work codename, but somehow he couldn''t shake off the "Rookie".

    The old man tilted his head, cing his hands on his hips, sizing up Chen Fei. He then pointed to Chen''s left shoulder, squeezed his eyebrows together, and said with a mischievous smile, "Because you look like a rookie, this codename suits you. Be sure to keep it up, hahahaha!"

    This young man is truly interesting. Doesn''t he know that having an unusual codename means Lord Yama can''t easily remember it, and that''s what helps you survive in dangerous situations?

    Among the crowd of "Two-Tails", "Big Hang", "Dumbo", "Worn Shoe", "Big Yellow Teeth", "Toad Face", the name "Rookie" is already quite a good one.

    "Chirp!~"

    Aha! The tactical Band-Aid hase too, and although it might look small, it can save a life at a crucial moment.

    This was Manager Hanna''s insistence, that no means of saving lives should be given up, as a Magical Beast of the Second Rank of Human Order can provide a certain level of assistance.

    So Chen Fei could only bring Little Bird and its nest to the camp for registration.

    "Do you have a second work codename? Hurry up and help me with this box."

    Number 73, Hanna Gagel, tugged at the full-metal tactical supply box she had just received, which was exceedingly heavy.

    The box wasrge enough to fit a burly man, and in addition to the standard personal gear, it contained other items as per personal requests, just about anything that was avable on the market within a certain budget.

    Dammit... I really don''t have a second work codename.

    Annoyed, Chen Fei knocked on the all-metal box, grumpily saying, "Look! Even a coffin nk has been prepared!"

    The dimensions, both inside and out, were stamped on the exterior of the box: 0.6 meters in height and width, with a length of 2.4 meters, enough to fit an adult and to hold a considerable amount of items.

    Laughing happily, the gray-haired old man suddenly paused, his smile fading as he asked in confusion, "Have you participated in such an operation before?"

    "Eh? What do you mean?"

    Now it was Chen Fei''s turn to be puzzled, as the other man clearly had an implication in his words.

    The old man, with his fingerless tactical gloves, patted the full-metal tactical supply box in front of Chen Fei, heh''d, and said, "That''s right, this is your coffin!"

    Chen Fei''s eyes widened as he followed the man''s gaze and slowly looked down at the box, his hair standing on end involuntarily.

    For goodness'' sake, even a coffin was prepared in advance; the stark reality is right here, with the risks of the reconnaissance operation alreadyid bare.

    ```

    System: Ding! 11.52 kilograms of titanium alloy discovered, absorb? Yes/No |?

    Of course it''s... no, no, no!

    If it were absorbed, would one have to hold the stuff inside with bare hands?

    "Hehehe..."

    The small, white-haired old man chuckled creepily, it seemed he was overthinking.

    The other person was a true rookie, the 24K kind.

    "Damn it!"

    Chen Fei, annoyed, picked up the box and slung it over his shoulder, then grabbed the handle of Manager Hanna''s box, and together they lifted it up.

    Seeing Chen Fei carry a coffin-sized box, still and helping to lift another, Executive Manager Hanna Gagar asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"

    "No problem, it''s just too big and awkward to hold!"

    Chen Fei shook his head, looking quite rxed.

    Ever since his Special Ability Awakening, his strength had grown day by day; the coffin on his shoulder, if it had been from before, could not only have been impossible to lift, but he reckoned it could have crushed him.

    Their dormitories were almost side by side, marked with their corresponding numbers, 73 and 74. They were modr lightweight foam brick constructions with ayer of mortar smeared on the outside.

    The interior wasn''t small, featuring a bedroom and a bathroom, fully equipped with water and electricity, and the bathroom even had a bathtub, much better than the cramped single room at the 911 Aircrew Base where Chen Fei had stayed.

    No sooner had they ced down the tactical gear box than someone outside the door called out, "Numbers 73, 74, 75, 76, and 77 of the 13th Squad, pleasee out and assemble, I am team leader number 78."

    Chen Fei went to the door and saw a tall, thin ck man standing outside. He looked left and right: Hanna''s room number 73 was on the east end, his own was the second one from the east, and there were four more rooms to the right, all with lights on.

    Clearly, the dormitories in the camp were specifically nned ording to the reconnaissance squad structures, six people to a squad, with six adjacent dorms of lightweight foam brick buildings; then row upon row of neat houses. Including the camp''s logistics staff,

    there were exactly eighty rows, totalling four hundred and eighty single rooms, surrounding a huge centralprehensive main building.

    If a dormitory was upied, a light would automatically turn on at the door. From afar, the entire camp''s attendance situation was crystal clear.

    From number 73 to 77, each dormitory had someone stick their head out just like Chen Fei.

    "I am the team leader, number 78, please line up by number!"

    The tall, thin ck man standing in front of the row of houses of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad raised his right hand.

    Apart from Hanna Gagar and Chen Fei, the rest were from different aircrew bases. Being in a team for the first time, everyone was somewhat reserved, but they quickly lined up.

    It wasn''t just the 13th Reconnaissance Squad lining up; other squads withplete rosters were also assembling, starting to adapt to each other and build the most basic understanding.

    "Please form a circle!"

    The tall, thin man with number 78 again gave an instruction.

    He was clearly someone with methods; when everyone stood in a circle, he said, "Now, starting from number 73, please introduce yourselves."

    The executive manager spoke calmly, "I am number 73, Hanna Gagar, from the 911 Aircrew Base, a Wind-type Ability User, codenamed ''Eye of the Storm''."

    "Eye of the Storm"?!

    Chen Fei was surprised.

    This was the first time he heard that Manager Hanna actually had such a high-end job codename.

    It was simply awesome PLUS!

    Why did he have to be called "Rookie"? Could he not y happily together?

    Others were curious about the "Eye of the Storm" too, evaluating the executive manager''s One-Eye, wondering if this eye was the origin of her codename.

    "Ahem!"

    Noticing that everyone was somewhat distracted, the leader of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, number 78, cleared his throat as a reminder, "Number 74, please introduce yourself!"

    Chen Fei refocused and said loudly, "Hello everyone, I am Chen Fei, codenamed ''Rookie,'' also from the 911 Aircrew Base, a Metal Ability User!"

    Being a mechanic and pilot matter little here, there are no nes to fix or to fly, and next up is crawling into a cave, which is even less rted to flying.

    The 911 Aircrew Base producing two supernatural power users at once made the other members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad look over a few more times, recalling recent rumors of the base that held its own in a corporate war against the eighth-ranked industrial giant, the Merman Brothers Consortium, and did not fall behind¡ªthe base was indeed 911.

    Even many military contractors have no ability users, let alone aircrew bases, this 911 Aircrew Base was really something different!

    -

    ```

 Chapter 146: Section 146 - Fire One

    Number 76 was a long-haired woman, curiously sizing up Chen Fei''s shoulder. After listening to his introduction, she couldn''t help but ask, "Number 74, is that little bird on your shoulder a Pure Light Sparrow?"

    Carrying a little bird with ck feathers was indeed very eye-catching.

    Birds are usually timid, and it wasn''t easy for someone like Chen Fei to carry one around.

    "Yes, its name is Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu, say hello to everyone."

    Chen Fei smiled and nodded.

    "A pet, how fun!"

    Someone murmured softly, clearly an inexperienced rookie who had no idea about the dangers of this mission. Even if they were a supernatural power user, what could they do when surrounded by mutants?

    "Chirp!~"

    A burst of white light erupted unexpectedly, enveloping an area of several meters and shrouding all six people within it.

    "Damn!"

    "My eyes, my eyes!"

    "Who, who did this?"

    "It''s an ambush!"

    The scene was inplete chaos, with most members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad scattering like headless flies.

    "Uh, everyone, don''t panic! This was just an ident. It''s a ''Light Burst sh'' from the Light-based Spells. My little bird hasn''t quite mastered it yet, sorry, really sorry!"

    Chen Fei had almost be immune to this spell. His vision was momentarily blinded but recovered in an instant.

    Recently, the Little Bird had taken to shing without much reason, although it couldn''t do it too often in a short period. Still, thanks to the fast recovery of the Light Element and spiritual power, its energy was full again after half an hour!

    If it cast "Light Burst sh" every six minutes, it could keep shing incessantly, achieving the "Permanent shlight" feat.

    "..."

    The female executive manager, also affected, twitched at the corner of her mouth.

    She knew that Chen Fei''s little bird understood human speech. This sudden sh, whether intentional or idental, was probably best not pursued.

    You really can''t hold a grudge against a bird, no matter what, for the sake of your own dignity!

    "Pure Light Sparrow, a Light-element Magical Beast..."

    The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, Number 78, groaned.

    This unexpected sh was indeed a Light-based Spell and was utterly unexpected.

    "Xiao Jiu, no more of this, okay."

    Chen Fei was instructing the little bird not to randomly use "Light Burst sh" anymore and causing the whole reconnaissance squad to descend into chaos.

    "Chirp!"

    Xiao Jiu cheekily pecked at the finger Chen Fei, its dad, had extended, looking rather defiant.

    A minute or twoter, except for Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar, everyone else had slightly swollen, red eyes and their gazes flitted around, too afraid to look directly at the little bird, fearing another sh.

    Although it wasn''t lethal, causing only temporary blindness, it was still quite an ordeal.

    But in a dark cavern, an unexpected sh like that could potentially cause permanent blindness.

    "This, this is really something... Number 74, control your bird!"

    Number 78, a tall, thin ck man, was at a loss for words.

    Brought along on the mission, whether it should be encouraged or not was a dilemma tooplex to resolve, somewhat beyond his capabilities.

    "Don''t worry! Xiao Jiu won''t make trouble!"

    Chen Fei assured him confidently, patting his chest.

    The little bird was very well-behaved and quite obedient.

    "Number 75, please continue."

    The tall, thin ck man had no choice but to trust and turned his gaze toward the person next to Chen Fei.

    Number 75 was a young, overweight man with messy hair and thick, high-prescription sses.

    He rubbed his hands together and shyly said, "My name is Andy Brian, a frencer. I''m basically a homebody, a Seventh Rank Earth Mage."

    After saying that, he ran out of things to say and awkwardly looked over to Number 76.

    Number 76 was the long-haired woman who had previously asked Chen Fei about the bird. She had some freckles around her nose but wasn''t unattractive. She smiled and said, "I''m Number 76, my name is Cecilia Danbers. I''m from the Joint Defense Committee, handling various electronic devices likemunicators, drones, warning systems, and more.

    I''m also proficient in first aid, bone-setting, and bandaging. If you''re injured,e find me."

    From her skillset, it was clear she was purely support personnel, unlikely to engage in frontlinebat unless everyone else was down.

    After finishing, Number 76 nced again at the Pure Light Sparrow on Chen Fei''s shoulder. This Magical Beast Bird''s skills somewhat ovepped with her own duties.

    The first skill of a Light-element Magical Beast is typically the Healing Spell "Light Healing Technique," especially effective for bruises and minor injuries, often showing immediate results.

    Having such a little bird was beneficial and harmless for the entire reconnaissance squad.

    "My name is Sahar Ignatius, a Sixth Rank Wind-Type Battle Profession User and a Great Swordsman, from the Olympus Defense Group."

    No. 77 was a sturdy-built man with aposed demeanor, carrying a great sword on his back.

    Hearing the name ''Olympus Defense Group,'' at least half of the members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad showed surprised expressions; it was a powerhouse military contractor ranked second in the industry.

    Even formidable entities like the Merman Brothers Consortium, considered tough rivals by the executive manager Hanna Gagar, only qualified to be utterly defeated in front of Olympus Defense Group.

    The difference inprehensive strength between each of the top ten industry leaders meant absolute domination.

    "My name is ke, number 78, designated by the Joint Defense Committee as the captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad. I''m a B-level Dark Elemental Psychic, an archer, a gunsmith responsible for guarding the alchemy storage device. You can put all your tactical supply boxes with me."

    The tall, thin ck man was thest to introduce himself, concluding his introduction with a gesture, showing off a wide-band ring he wore on his right middle finger.

    The capacity of an alchemy storage device is calcted based on the volume of storage space. The metal tactical supply boxes issued at registration have a volume of about 0.864 cubic meters, enough to hold six people''s supply boxes, which means this ring-type space system alchemy storage device has at least five cubic meters of space.

    Based on the market value of alchemy storage devices, one cubic meter is worth one hundred million Star Yuan, with a 50% price increase at ten times the base value and a 100% price increase at a hundred times.

    With over fifty reconnaissance squads in a camp and each squad requiring a space system alchemy storage device, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee setting up six reconnaissance camps means over 300 devices are needed, totaling about 160 billion Star Yuan in value.

    Good grief, that''s enough to take down 16 Metallic Dragons.

    Only the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee could afford such massive expenditures, most likely having used strategic reserves from one or even several sovereign countries.

    Otherwise, where would one gather so many space system alchemy storage devices, especially those with a capacity over four cubic meters?

    The man known as No. 75, Andy Brian, wore a puzzled expression before suddenly pausing as if he''d just remembered something. He eximed in surprise, "''Dark Arrow''? ''Dark Arrow'' sir, is that you?"

    Dark Arrow? Harmful Dark Arrow?

    Chen Fei and Hanna Gagar looked simultaneously at No. 78, the B-level Dark Elemental Psychic, ke, who did indeed fit the profile.

    "Yes, it''s me!"

    No. 78, the tall, thin ck captain nodded his head, not denying it.

    "Sir, please sign this for me!"

    The chubby Seventh Rank Earth Mage, No. 75 Andy Brian, dashed into his dormitory then stumbled back out, holding a small notebook and a pen.

    "Alright!"

    The tall, thin ck captain, ke, looked genuinely embarrassed.

    Finding a fan here was quite unexpected for him.

    "Sir, I''m ''Taishan''!"

    The chubby Earth Mage stood with his belly out, still buzzing with excitement.

    When did the bloody Tarzan be so fat? Middle age, hard to control oneself!

    "Oh, oh, nice meeting you!"

    The tall, thin ck captain was bewildered; he had no idea which ''Taishan'' this chubby fan really was.

    In this world, there were at least eight or ten well-known individuals nicknamed or codenamed ''Taishan,'' not to mention the countless more if one looked further back in time.

    Honestly, this "Taishan" was no better than a "Rookie"!

    This was indeed very embarrassing.

    "Tomorrow morning at nine o''clock, we will enter through Entrance 13. Aside from personal belongings, essential food, medicine, and drinking water, as well as weapons and ammunition, put everything else into the tactical supply boxes. There''s a supply point on the east side of the camp where you can replenish your needs. Before departure, I will collect everyone''s supply boxes.

    Is that understood by all?"

    The tall, thin ck captain, No. 78 ke, again showed off his ring-type space system storage device.

    "Understood!"

    Everyone responded in unison.

    The next morning came early.

    Chen Fei had gathered his things neatly, dressed in a ck-grey python-patterned tactical camouge suit, hisrge backpack in tow, weapons slung, and carrying a fully packed metal tactical supply box outside his dormitory.

    The tactical Band-Aid, Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu, stood atop the box, chirping incessantly.

    For others, the bird''s chirping seemed somewhat agonizing, indeed fearing that Second Rank Light-based Spell.

    Thus, everyone prepared a pair of sunsses, which baffled the personnel at the supply point.

    In a pitch-dark cavern, wearing sunsses would surely render one blind.

    So¡­ what was this inconceivable new practice?

    A transport helicopter carried the 13th Reconnaissance Squad near the Entrance 13, which appeared as a thin, long crack plunging straight down into the earth.

    Although no person was near the entrance, it was equipped with lights, cameras, and various sensors, closely monitored remotely to catch any disturbance.

    "Couldn''t you choose another weapon? Must you use this antique?"

    Hanna Gagar finally couldn''t help butin after another nce at the modern high replica AK-47 in Chen Fei''s hands.

    While everyone else carried thetest model of personal weapons with either strong pration,rge coverage, or terrible destructive power, Chen Fei alone clung to an almost hundred-year-old relic. Was he nning to go hunting like Squadron Leader Chekhov?

    -

 Chapter 147: Section 147 - In-depth

    Chen Fei said with an apologetic tone, "I owe Squadron Leader Chekhov an original AK-47."

    This was a private debt, and apart from the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron, not many others knew about it.

    After all, it concerned an antique worth a million; nobody could afford to be so generous as to write it off, especially since their rtionship wasn''t that close yet.

    Fortunately, Squadron Leader Chekhov wasn''t in a hurry to collect the debt, and in the end, whether Chen Fei chose to return the rifle or paypensation, it was fine, which greatly relieved his pressure.

    Each person participating in the reconnaissance mission could receive material supplies worth 500,000 Star Yuan, and if expenses exceeded that amount, they had to pay the difference themselves. In fact, 500,000 Star Yuan was already more than enough, particrly since the focus of the mission was reconnaissance.

    Upon encountering danger, they could choose to retreat immediately and didn''t need to engage in a major battle, so they didn''t require too much equipment.

    As per Chen Fei''s request, obtaining an AK-47 automatic rifle that, apart from being of a recent make, had the same material and craftsmanship as the original was not a problem for the formidable Blue Star Global United Defense Committee.

    Since it was a high-fidelity replicate, it was worth at most 10,000 to 20,000 Star Yuan.

    Hanna Gagar scrutinized the AK-47 in Chen Fei''s hands from top to bottom.

    "That one in your hands isn''t original, right?"

    Shiny and reeking of gunpowder smoke, without even a hint of wear and tear, it was clearly a new rifle. Pretending to be a decades-old original was something even a blind person would not be fooled by.

    The original factory had long since closed down. If it could havested till now, it definitely would have been a centennial manufacturer. In the wheels of history, there aren''t that many "ifs"...

    "Of course not, I''m using it as a temte," Chen Fei replied.

    Chen Fei had a different idea than Manager Hanna had expected.

    System: Ding! Absorbed one AK-47 automatic rifle, weighing 3.85 kilograms,position ratio: Iron 70%, Chromium 18%, Nickel 8%...

    In the blink of an eye, only the wooden parts of the rifle, including the handguard assembly, grip, and stock, remained in the AK-47 automatic rifle in his hands.

    Physical Evolution Database (443), Categories: Cold Weapon (7), Firearms (2), Tools (95), essories (339) | Search.../Manage...

    Alloy Database (8553): A, B, C...Z | Search.../Manage...

    The continuously improving Dog System brought new discoveries with each ess.

    Chen Fei had an original, partially damaged rifle at hand and had just the necessary skills from the Dog System, including "Alloy Database," "Elemental Dposition," "Elemental Synthesis," and "Metal Shaping," allowing for full repair and replication.

    The real difference between a new and old rifle is the test of time. Beyond the visible wear and oxidation, there''s also the release of internal stress from the metal parts.

    Rifles that haven''t endured the years need recalibration after being in storage for some time to restore shooting uracy (like the Type 63 automatic rifle, which can''t evenst overnight), but old rifles that have fully released their internal stress don''t have this issue¡ªthey are ready to fire urately right out of storage.

    "Eh?!" Hanna Gagar expressed surprise as she looked at the wooden parts in Chen Fei''s hands and asked in confusion, "What is this all about?"

    The sudden move from Chen Fei thoroughly confused her.

    "This way, I can fully understand the measurements of this AK-47," Chen Fei exined.

    Chen Fei spread his hands and began to extract the AK-47 automatic rifle from the Firearms category in the Physical Evolution Database. The body of the rifle "grew" out in his hands, and he timely ced the wooden parts on it, melding them back into one piece.

    Half a minuteter, an AK-47 that looked identical to the previous one reappeared in Chen Fei''s hands, as if it had never been absorbed in the first ce.

    Then he extracted it again.

    Another AK-47 appeared in Chen Fei''s hands, but this time without the woodenponents, looking somewhat iplete.

    However, since the Physical Evolution Database and Metal Shaping formed the parts in one go without various machining processes, there was naturally no internal stress, and even the old rifles that had gone through years could not match this level of perfection.

    Compared to the amount of metal Chen Fei had "eaten," "spitting" out a little now was not an issue at all.

    "Is that even possible?" Manager Hanna wondered.

    Special Abilities are weird and varied. Even among those of the same element, the executive manager had never seen a Metal Elemental Psychic Power like this.

    How to put it... wasn''t this the real definition of a handyman?!

    Chen the Handyman Fei.

    Setting other things aside, he was quite suitable for his job at Aircrew Base 911, where he could make use of all these abilities.

    But the downside of this power was also clear¡ªit couldn''t create non-metal parts, not to mention bullets. There were quite a few restrictions; he couldn''t just create anything he wanted.

    ke, the Dark Elemental Psychic leader of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, checked the surveince records and said, "Alright, we can go in!"

    He led the way into the narrow cave entrance, and the lights on his helmet and waist immediately illuminated the cavern ahead.

    ke was fully equipped¡ªfrom hunting bows and crossbows to daggers, machetes, automatic rifles, pistols, and grenades. He was armed with both cold weapons and firearms, akin to a mobile armory, and if they encountered any mutants, these weapons would surelye in handy.

    Before this, the Global United Defense Committee had already sent people to scout ahead and left relevant surveince equipment, wires, and lights in ce, to prevent the iing official reconnaissance personnel from running into mutants active inside the entrance.

    A humming sound spread through the air.

    A quadcopter drone took off from the hands of Cecilia Danbers, the electronics expert with number 76, flying past ke, the front-runner Dark Elemental Psychic, and deep into the pitch-dark depths of the cave. It projected a rapidly flickering thin beam of light, mapping the area it flew over.

    "Cave Dragonfly" possesses a certain level of intelligent functionality and autonomous capability, so it doesn''t rely heavily on remote control. It can return along its original path every fifteen minutes to recharge its electric energy and transmit the surveyed information.

    Just this one "Cave Dragonfly" alone consumed one-fifth of the resource allocation for Cecilia Danbers, and with other auxiliaryponents, a total of at least 150,000 Star Yuan was spent on this drone.

    While Squadron Leader ke was reviewing the surveince records, Cecilia Danbers had already sent a "Cave Dragonfly" into the cave once, collecting preliminary survey data.

    Now, every time she ventured a certain distance, she''d stick a reflective arrow sticker with a number on the cave walls.

    The smaller the number, the closer to the cave entrance, to prevent getting lost in the depths of the cave. Although it was a low-tech solution, it was very effective. The stickers were neither heavy nor thick, and one roll couldst a long time.

    "The path ahead is clear!"

    Executive manager Hanna Gagar used her Wind-type Psionic Ability to collect the air vibrations returning from ahead, which were sounds.

    Besides the buzzing sound of the "Cave Dragonfly''s" rotors, no other sounds were heard.

    She would issue an immediate warning if there were any signs of movement.

    The team''s person who most resembled a stay-at-home geek, Seventh Rank Earth Mage Andy Brian, number 75, opened his perception to remain alert to the geological structures around him, both to prevent copses that could threaten the reconnaissance squad and to detect hidden forks and caverns, ensuring control over the full terrain.

    Number 77, Sixth Rank Wind-Type Battle Profession User and Great Swordsman Sahar Ignatius, had already slung his sword over his shoulder and was walking at the rear of the group, responsible for covering their backs.

    All members of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad had their specific roles.

    Chen Fei''s task was to protect the only nonbatant, electronic specialist Cecilia Danbers; his AK-47 had long been switched out for a White Steel Crowbar.

    In the cave, a Physics Holy Sword was evidently more practical than firearms.

    "Chirp!~ Chirp!~"

    The calls of the Pure Light Sparrow echoed within the cave.

    Two ping-pong-ball-sized Light Orbs formed in front of Little Bird and drifted upwards, floating above the 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s front and rear.

    The First Rank Light-based Spell "Illumination Technique" found its ce in the pitch-ck cave. Each Light Orb, as bright as a 30-watt LED bulb, illuminated a ten-meter radius around it as if it were daylight.

    For a moment, all other lighting equipment paled inparison.

    This Spell was no burden for Little Bird who could maintain it indefinitely.

    "Pure Light Sparrow is a Light-element Magical Beast! I think we should add a slot for Xiao Jiu," said Dark Elemental Psychic ke, who turned around and dutifully switched off his heamp and belt light.

    The brightness of the Light-based Spells had surpassed his own lighting equipment, so it was better to conserve some precious electricity.

    With their more acute senses, magical beasts served as anotheryer of security.

    As far as he knew, there were only two teams in the entire Camp 2 that included a magical beast in their reconnaissance squads.

    "I second that!"

    The female electronic specialist Cecilia heartily agreed.

    "Let''s call it 74.5 then!"

    Chen Fei scratched Little Bird''s chin.

    "Chirp!"

    Little Bird didn''t protest, seeming to ept the designation.

    A number with a whole, a zero, and a decimal point - such an identifier was¡­well, it''s the participation that counts! Don''t sweat these trivial details.

    After walking for about an hour, the air grew humid, the temperature plummeted, and the cave opened up, with the sound of dripping water faintly audible nearby.

    "This is a carbonate rock structure with stctites, watch your feet and head, and be careful not to step into a hole or hit your head," said Earth Mage Andy Brian, whose voice wasn''t loud but echoed in everyone''s ears due to the surrounding environment.

    The Illumination Technique''s light reflected off the clear stctites, casting a hazy, multicolored glow.

    "Chirp!~"

    Little Bird seemed to be enjoying it and released another Illumination Technique Light Orb.

    The 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s path became even brighter, illuminating a much wider area of this carbonate rock structure''s cavern,parable in size to a football field.

    Glittering reflections dotted the entire space, as if inside a crystal pce, resplendently luxurious.

    -

 Chapter 148: Section 148 - Camp (Authorized Edition, Qidian Reading)

    Chen Fei noticed the thick and colorful stctites hanging down were surprisingly embedded with blocks of crystal-clear crystals. He couldn''t help but use his White Steel Crowbar to knock off a small piece of stctite, picked up a fist-sized crystal from it, and examined it closely before his eyes.

    "A gemstone?"

    Chen Fei had always been desperately poor, so anything valuable could catch his attention.

    The female electronics expert Cecilia Danbers also noticed the various sized crystals embedded on the surfaces of the stctites and spected, "Probably not!"

    The formation of stctites is rted to water, but most gemstones are formed only by fire, or more urately, byva.

    Water dripping into gemstones, that''s almost an impossible affair.

    Hanna Gagel nced at the crystal in Chen Fei''s hand and said calmly, "Calcite crystals,posed of calcium carbonate, originating from the same source as stctites. The pure ones are also called d Spar, which exhibit a double refraction effect,monly used as industrial raw materials in toothpaste and paper-making. Artificial d Spar can be used to make optical equipment.

    In ancient times, it was used by Viking Pirates as an opticalpass for navigation known as Sunstone. Even on cloudy days, you could use it to find the direction of the sun."

    "That useful? Is it valuable?"

    What Chen Fei cared about most was whether it was valuable or not.

    Manager Hanna said disdainfully, "It''s not valuable. Its Mohs hardness is only 3, which does not meet the requirements of a gemstone."

    Raw calcite isn''t worth much, not even a hundred Star Yuan per ton.

    Even the piece in Chen Fei''s hand, which is pure and almost wless, is at most worth ten Star Yuan, barely a collectible or a mineral specimen.

    "Right, calcite is not valuable."

    The female electronics expert Cecilia Danbers also nodded in agreement.

    Some electronic devices use synthetic d Spar, but they can''t be sold at the price of gemstones, and they are even worth less than the equallymon obsidian.

    "Not valuable!"

    Chen Fei looked at the crystal-clear stone in his hand and felt rather regretful. He had thought he had found a treasure, only to realize it was just an ordinary mineral deposit.

    He was just about to throw it away when he finally held back and put the fist-sized piece of calcite crystal into his backpack, considering it a souvenir of this reconnaissance mission.

    He then took out his phone and furiously snapped pictures of the dense forest of stctites nearby as a keepsake, to make the trip worthwhile.

    Seeing Chen Fei taking photos, everyone else also stopped in their tracks and took out their phones or professional cameras to snap away. Even team leader ke, who was leading the way up front, specifically stopped to wait for everyone to finish taking photos before setting off again.

    The underground space was dark and oppressive, and no one would refuse an opportunity to rx.

    The duration of the reconnaissance operation deep into the cave was not fixed and depended on the supplies carried by the squad. They would return to the surface before they ran outpletely.

    The Space System Alchemy Storage Devices carried by each team leader contained enough supplies for the whole squad tost a very long time.

    About ten hours into the trek, the 13th Reconnaissance Squad finally stopped. Although everyone still had plenty of physical energy to continue, they needed to reserve strength for unexpected situations to avoid overexertion and potential peril.

    Team leader ke chose a high rocky tform that was easy to defend and difficult to attack as a temporary campsite for everyone. The full metal tactical supply boxes everyone carried were set out neatly.

    The ground was slightly modified with Earth Magic, moisture-proof mats wereid out, and then tents were set up, sleeping bags were unfurled, and a small pile of charcoal fire was lit to dispel the dampness in the air while drying shoes and socks and heating water.

    Three Illumination Technique Light Orbs from the Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu were floating above the temporary camp, illuminating the tens of thousands of square feet of space surrounding the granite tform.

    The hard granite reced the previous cave formations encountered, with trickling groundwater seeping through some of the rock crevices. However, the water tasted bitter and salty, clearly containing rock salt, contaminating the water. The saline water crystallized intorge and small, stctite-like white salt blossoms as it seeped out.

    This precipitated rock salt was not edible as it often contained mineral toxins.

    After choosing the campsite, team leader ke and the Great Swordsman Sahar Ignatius set up some early warning sensors and anti-infantry directional mines around the area as an outer defense line.

    It never hurts to be careful¡ªan old adage that is never wrong, and these arrangements could buy everyone some time in case the camp was attacked, preventing them from being caught off guard and disorganized.

    The first day''s journey prated 20 kilometers¡ªa negligible distance for the entire reconnaissance area. The journey of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad was just beginning.

    Owing to his racial talents, Chen Fei assumed the role of Leading Soldier and was engrossed in the pots and pans, busily preupied.

    The food and drinking water that everyone carried on their persons were for emergencies. The normal supplies were stored in team leader ke''s Space System Alchemy Storage Device.

    "Jiu!"

    Little Bird was hungry again and kept pecking at Chen Fei''s earlobe as if to remind him to start the meal quickly.

    It couldn''t eat like humans did, three meals a day¡ªif it was hungry, it had to eat, requiring at least five or six meals a day, especially since it had just advanced in rank and its appetite had be particrly strong.

    Grain-based food was far from satisfying its needs; the best was high-protein food.

    Most of the contents of Chen Fei''s backpack were Xiao Jiu''s rations, the all-purpose chicken feed pellets, and small pellets made mainly of dried mealworms.

    "Hungry again? Don''t worry; I''ll get you something to eat."

    Chen Fei, who was preparing dinner for everyone, took out a can of bird food from his backpack, poured some into a small bowl, and the Little Bird immediately pped its wings and settled on the rim of the bowl, sticking its head in and pecking away cheerfully.

    Dinner was very simple, not requiring much effort and time¡ªa self-heating rice dish, slices of toast, a few canned vegetables, and a pot of vegetable soup. Protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, and calories were all in good supply, and everyone enjoyed the meal thoroughly.

    At this critical moment, there really wasn''t any reason to be picky; being able to eat and fill one''s stomach was already cause for gratitude.

    If you want a feast, that would have to wait until we get out and return to human civilization.

    Being finicky now would just be unreasonable.

    After dinner, the female electronics expert Cecilia Danbers checked the time, then asked the Earth Mage Andy Brian to use magic to open up a suitably-sized deep hole on the surface of the granite and inserted a cylindrical device into it.

    A momentter, the device embedded in the granite emitted one muffled sound after another, as if even the rock itself was vibrating.

    Captain ke of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad exined to the others, "This is seismicmunication, sending coded information ording to predetermined messages, reporting our situation, and at the same time, it can detect the conditions at the camp and other reconnaissance teams."

    The thickyers of rockplex inposition make it difficult for electromaic waves to prate, so using vibration to transmit signals is an effective method.

    The efficiency with which the earth transmits seismic waves is not much less than that of the oceans. Although the amount of information they can carry isn''trge, it''s more than enough to send and receive some simple messages, with important ones sent three times.

    Before long, as if a giant stethoscope was pressed against the surface of the rock, another device disyed a string of codes on its screen.

    "We have prated 20 kilometers deep, and like us, all other reconnaissance squads are resting. Squad 37 has found some unexined traces and is currently identifying and verifying them. No traces of Mutant BC-2325 have been found on the surface for the time being," Cecilia Danbers read from the newly received information.

    Though not abatant, her role in the reconnaissance squad is incredibly important and irreceable.

    On the first day, all the reconnaissance squads didn''t achieve much. Suspicions do not equate to confirmation; the mutants'' hiding ces still hadn''t been discovered, but this was within expectations¡ªnothing in this world is aplished overnight.

    Noticing Chen Fei, who was lounging on a moisture-proof mat with a crowbar in hand, eyeing the nearby granite with a covetous look, Hanna Gagar reminded him unhappily, "Rookie, stop staring and get some rest."

    Under the bright light of the illumination technique, the pyrite particles on the rock surface reflected spots of gold like gold itself, making the granite cavern glitter with golden light.

    Unfortunately, although they twinkled like stars, not a single one of them was of any value.

    The tiny pyrite particles were even less valuable than therge feldspar grains that made up the granite, or the quartz crystal clusters that bloomed like flowers.

    Chen Fei''s vitality and spirit seemed to dete, and he said dispiritedly, "If only it were real gold."

    He had once touched those glittering spots out of curiosity, but the system immediately identified them as pyrite, not even amounting to one gram. If he were to be serious, it would be like absorbing loneliness; to gather enough for an energy point, he would probably have to scour the whole granite cavern area.

    "Haha, what are you dreaming about, wishful thinking, a drink maybe!" Hanna, the manager, took out a bottle of alcohol from her heavy backpack.

    It had been a while since she and Chen Fei had a toast together.

    "Drink!"

    Chen Fei sat up in one swoop from his moisture-proof mat as if to drown his sorrows with alcohol.

    He could still feel the faint vibrations from the ground while sitting there; the other reconnaissance teams were transmitting information through seismic waves, making the area underneath a vast expanse of ground quite lively.

    Cecilia Danbers, who was monitoring the seismic receiver, diligently jotted everything down in a notebook as her source of intelligence.

    "Can I have one too?" asked the Great Swordsman Sahar Ignatius, eyes glued to the bottle of alcohol in the executive manager''s hand. Just from thebel, he knew it was an expensive treasure not to be missed.

    Hanna Gagar looked at Chen Fei, who nodded and said, "You''re very wee!"

    Without looking up, the female electronics expert said, "Could I have one as well?" her hands still scribbling away, surrounded by six or seven devices.

    "And me!" the portly Earth Mage Andy Brian joined in the excitement.

    Captain ke said with a smile, "Count me in."

    One, two, three, four, five, six¡ªall of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad were present.

    Hanna, the manager, looked at Chen Fei irritatedly, one drink each, and then no more!

    -

 Chapter 149 Section 149 - Sticky White

    A bottle of wine, 550ml, split among six people, each person didn''t even get two ounces of wine, barely enough to taste it, and drinking to satisfaction was out of the question.

    Though there was still wine left, more than one bottle, it wasn''t necessary to drink it all at once. Manager Hanna clearly wasn''t that generous.

    Facing a stingy female executive manager, Chen Fei could only maintain a naive and honest smile, not daring to show any other superfluous expressions.

    This one-eyed old woman really held a grudge; if he didn''t y dumb, he''d surely be the target of her anger. With her Wind-type psionic ability activated, he would be propelled from the granite podium and then smack onto the ground,pletely out cold!

    Better not provoke her! Better not provoke her!

    "This wine is really good! It must be Tokay''s botrytized, number 73, excellent taste!"

    The captain of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad, number 78 ke, continued sipping slowly, savoring the vor, his smile growing wider.

    Botrytized?!

    Having never tried botrytized wine, but having seen others enjoy it, Chen Fei looked down at his empty wine ss.

    Wow! This great wine that was drained in two sips turned out to be a famous botrytized one, and he had thought it was just a sweet white wine given how delicious it was.

    A single sip would probably cost hundreds of Star Yuan, right?

    Definitely a loss. Like Zhu Bajie eating the Ginseng Fruit, he should have savored it like ke did¡ªthe proper way to enjoy a botrytized wine.

    "I just like to drink it,"

    Hanna Gagar said in a chilly tone, and with the right person, she could getpletely drunk, tear off her mask, and reveal her unguarded true nature, releasing her suppressed emotions without reservation; but with someone she didn''t click with, even half a ss was too much.

    As the saying goes, a thousand cups are too few when drinking with a kindred spirit, but half a word is too much with those you don''t enjoy.

    ke, meeting awkwardness, gave an embarrassed smile, drank the remaining wine in his ss, and said, "Apart from number 76 Cecilia Danbers, everyone else will join me in rotating night shifts. Two people each day, responsible for the first andst five hours, starting with me!"

    Having said that, he patted his buttocks, stood up, and walked towards the edge of the granite podium without looking back. As the captain, it was right for him to set an example, otherwise, how would hemand respect.

    The tall, ck ke was skilled not only with cold weapons like archery but also with firearms, hitting almost precisely where he aimed, never missing a shot (or arrow). Combined with his Dark System Ability, he was a dominant force in these underground spaces, providing him with a significant advantage.

    "Next one is you, and the one after that, still you,"

    Hanna Gagar nonchntly pulled out a stainless-steel sk, took a small sip for herself and pointed at Chen Fei. Stay updated through empire

    Tonight, he was second shift, and tomorrow night''s first shift was already his, which sounded odd, but logically, it made sense.

    Drink my wine, do my work.

    From any perspective, Chen Fei had no choice but to obey, especially since this one-eyed old woman was paying his sry!

    He likely didn''t even know that she would be his creditor; anyway, maintaining a good attitude was definitely not a mistake.

    Hanna Gagarmanding and acting rather haughtily was her direct response to Captain ke using her to establish his authority.

    If you want to boss thisdy around, please find someone else.

    Working youth Chen Fei was just right for taking over duties; after all, the work had to be done.

    Rookie, huh? What about human rights?

    Chen Fei, as expected, epted quickly, without anyints or hesitation.

    After all, splitting two night shifts over two days, each reducing five hours of sleep, was hardly an issue for a young person; he always had excellent sleep quality, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

    -

    Leading the first night shift, Captain ke found a spot on the edge of the granite podium and set up a 12.7mm caliber heavy machine gun, loading a belt of three hundred rounds.

    Based on the monitoring footage of the Aircrew Base''s encounter with an onught of Mutant BC-2325, conventional light weapons were practically no different from scratching an itch; to kill these thick-skinned mutants, high-caliber firearms were necessary.

    Next to the heavy machine gun were several spotlights and a pair of night-vision goggles, which could switch between low-light and infrared thermal imaging views.

    ke''s ring-shaped Space System alchemy storage device had a capacity not just of five cubic meters but eight,

    allowing him to carry a considerable amount of supplies.

    Half an hourter, the three Illumination Spell orbs hovering above the granite podium dissolved into countless light points and dissipated into the air.

    Darkness swept in, leaving only the dimmest light from a few campmps within the entire campsite.

    The whole camp, having trekked all day, swiftly fell into deep sleep; the dimly glowing embers released their remaining heat, continuing to dry everyone''s shoes and socks.

    Soft snores and breathing sounds filled the air, along with the asional faint chirp from Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu.

    In its twig nest, the slightly shrunk Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core emitted a hazy white light, bright enough to rival nearby camp lights, increasingly resembling a deskmp.

    The surface of the Crystal Core asionally released a few mischievous light points which, as if pulled by an invisible force, were drawn into the little bird''s body, sparking a final shimmering glow on its sleek, glossy feathers.

    During the first day''s reconnaissance, apart from discovering a few native cave creatures, they found no traces of other life forms.

    The 13th Reconnaissance Squad was about three hundred meters below sea level, having traversed a zigzag route. Along the way, they encountered seven forks; upon confirmation with a four-axis rotary-wing unmanned drone, "Cave Dragonfly," and sonar detection equipment, these were mostly dead ends.

    There might have been narrow caves connecting to other caves, but they were notrge enough for humans to pass through and not worth further exploration.

    The monitoring system remained operational throughout the journey, indicating normal airposition, sometimes with minor methane levels, but no toxic gases were detected, and the air pressure remained within the normal range.

    As they ventured deeper, the temperature fluctuated between -1 and +15 degrees Celsius. In the same region, these fluctuations were minimal, and the humidity ranged from 70% to 100%, rarely dropping below 70%. The overall feel was cold and damp; drying clothes and socks by burning fuel became a necessity during camping.

    If one couldn''t maintain a dry state, getting cold and falling ill was inevitable.

    If there had been a Fire Ability User or a Mage in the squad, or even a Water Ability User, the situation would have been much improved.

    The 37th Reconnaissance Squad, which had noticed suspicious traces on the first day, confirmed it was a misjudgment, so the exploration continued deeper the following day.

    The 41st Reconnaissance Squad encountered a copse that blocked the path ahead for hundreds of meters, forcing them to halt and work on digging through and reinforcing the path. Luckily, most team members were Ability Users; if they were ordinary people, the reconnaissance mission would likely have been called off, and all members withdrawn.

    On their second day of camping, the 1st Reconnaissance Squad encountered a lurking Dark Monster, taking them by surprise and injuring one member.

    The one that had escaped the defensive zone checks at the Aircrew Base was immediately in, even yielding a rare Dark Monster Crystal Core.

    However, the injured member was poisoned, and even with timely detoxification, the temporary weakened state required someone to care for him, forcing the 1st Reconnaissance Squad to slow their pace.

    The number of idents and dangers encountered by the reconnaissance squads gradually increased as they ventured further and as time progressed. Had they not been equipped with Space System Alchemy Storage Devices and carried ample supplies, it would have been difficult to handle the increasingly frequent emergencies.

    "Hiss!~"

    Hanna Gagar, who was the second in line of the team, suddenly gasped sharply.

    "What''s wrong?"

    The team leader, ke, turned around.

    "I twisted my foot, hiss!"

    The female executive manager hobbled a couple of steps and found a spot to sit down.

    ke didn''t insist and went with the flow, saying, "Let''s all take a short break."

    Unforeseen circumstances can arise no matter how cautious one is.

    "Xiao Jiu!~"

    Chen Fei called out to the Pure Light Sparrow flying back and forth in the cave ceiling.

    The little bird, hearing the call,nded down, tilting its head curiously at Chen Fei.

    "Healing Magic!"

    Chen Fei pointed at Manager Hanna who had taken off her shoe, revealing her pale, delicate foot.

    It was surprising to see that the tough, one-eyed olddy had such fair feet.

    "Jiu!~"

    The little bird fluttered its wings and flew to Hanna Gagar''s foot. It opened its tiny beak, which quickly brightened up, releasing a light orb about the size of a soybean that fell onto the swelling on the executive manager''s ankle.

    The slightly reddened skin of the ankle visibly returned to its normal pallor at a rapid pace.

    Xiao Jiu lived up to its nickname as a "little Band-Aid." The effectiveness of its First Rank Light-based Spells was impressively immediate.

    "Hmm? It doesn''t hurt anymore? Xiao Jiu, you are quite impressive! Pu Aihua would probably cry himself to death."

    Hanna Gagar rubbed her gradually less swollen ankle and smiled. The origin of Xiao Jiu was no secret within the Aircrew Base 911. After all, without the Light Beast Crystal Core given by the female Metallic Giant Dragon, Yn, this little bird would probably still be just an ordinary Pure Light Sparrow, capable only of this Light Healing Technique.

    The female executive manager tried to touch the little bird, but the nimble creature dodged away, chirped twice, and flew back to rest on Chen Fei''s shoulder.

    Thinking of the ruthless Manager Hanna who had fired the sly Old Piao, sending him back home to fend for himself, Chen Fei was not at all surprised as he said, "He''s already dead from crying!"

    Although the sry wasn''t high in the mess hall kitchen of Aircrew Base 911, where Pu Aihua worked temporarily, he deserved the nickname "sly merchant" for his knack at making a profit in the market by buying and selling using various channels and limited resources. Despite being just a temporary worker, he earned quite a bit from side ies, making it a rtively stable job.

    After being sent home, given Pu Aihua''s age and abilities, it was unlikely he would find such a cushy job again.

    After witnessing the entirety of the little Band-Aid''s Healing Spell, team leader ke asked, "Can you walk now?"

    "It should be fine now."

    Hanna Gagar tried putting pressure on it, and indeed, it didn''t hurt anymore, so she supported herself off the ground and stood up.

    Upon standing, she felt something unexpectedly sticky in her hand. By the light of the Illumination Technique floating above the team, she saw a gooey white substance in the palm of her hand and made a strange face, instinctively smelling it only to detect a faint scent of mint.

    "Gum? Who would be so irresponsible as to spit out gum everywhere..."

    As soon as she spoke, not just Hanna Gagar, but everyone''s expression began to change.

    -

 Chapter 150 Section 150 - Stepping on a Lightning (Support genuine, Qidian Literature)

    Gum?

    It was indeed gum!

    Not only had Hanna Gagel smelled it, but the others also took turns sniffing and unanimously confirmed this judgement.

    After all, chewing gum is amon snack, familiar to everyone.

    Then, using a sliver of rock, they scraped off this nauseating gummy substance. It took washing their hands three times for Manager Hanna to feel significantly better. Her swollen red palms were once again treated with the Light Healing Technique from a small Band-Aid, which was excellent for reducing swelling and pain.

    It was seriously an unlucky year, encountering such a disgusting thing so deep underground.

    Captain ke of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad made a swift decision to make a temporary stop on the spot for a thorough search while reporting the new discovery to the surface.

    Nobody in the team chewed gum, let alone Hanna Gagel, who was walking in the second position.

    At a depth of about five hundred meters below sea level, in a ce where it takes over forty kilometers to reach the surface, they found a seemingly insignificant piece of chewing gum residue. Although they didn''t know who the unscrupulous person was, it was enough to prove some important information.

    Magical Beasts wouldn''t be interested in chewing gum with no nutritional value. Therefore, there was only one most likely possibility.

    Other humans had been here before and inadvertently left behind this chewed piece of gum.

    "Do you know? Both Rhino Cockroach AA-01 and Mutant BC-2325 showed traces of gic editing," Captain ke of the 13th Reconnaissance Squad reminded.

    "So, there''s a high probability of human intervention. Besides rhinoceros cockroaches and mutants, there could be humans?"

    No one in the team had low intelligence; the female electronic expert was the first to grasp this.

    The rock walls began to thump again, sending vibration signals through the ground.

    Chen Fei looked at the vibrators releasing powerful vibrations on the rock walls and spected, "Vibrationmunication might be monitored."

    "Er, that''s possible, no, very possible. The vibrations alone could be enough to startle the snake by hitting the grass."

    The female electronic expert Cecilia Danbers started to look serious.

    All members fell silent, looking at one another.

    Now that the enemy was hidden and they were exposed, the situation could be very unfavorable.

    Captain ke added, "Report to the surface immediately, suggest switching to encryptedmunication, maintain as much silence as possible, reduce the frequency ofmunication, and avoid revealing our location."

    Although vibrationmunication can prate thick earthyers to reach the surface, its disadvantage is also prominent: it almost can''t maintain secrecy.

    If there were other people beneath the surface, the probability of being overheard was high. And it didn''t require any high-tech equipment¡ªa mere stethoscope could do the job.

    The vibration signals traveling through the strata could also expose the source of the signal. Careless reconnaissance squads venturing from various tunnel entrances into the depths could suffer a setback.

    The report from the 13th Reconnaissance Squad quickly made its way back to the No. 2 Exploration Base Camp, causing quite a stir.

    Human beings, adept at using tools, could easily control situations and maintain the upper hand when dealing with less intelligent mutants. But if there were humans among the opposition, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee would have to treat the matter with caution.

    Mutants assisted by human intelligence could have destructive power and threat levels beyond imagination.

    Several hourster, the camp responded with a broadcast notification to all reconnaissance squads.

    Reduce the frequency ofmunication, switch encoding methods, and use time-based encoding mechanisms, which involve using different codes at different times.

    To decodemunication codes, collecting enough samples beforehand is a basic requirement.

    If there aren''t enough samples, not even gods could help.

    After the 13th Reconnaissance Squad''s discovery, other squads became more vignt and began to find unusual clues, such as unexined bloodstains, insect exoskeleton fragments, fabric fragments, and even a drink can. More importantly, fingerprints were lifted from the surface of the can.

    Vibrationmunication has limited capacity to convey information and couldn''t transmit the fingerprint data. The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee immediately called upon a Space Series Ability User, who opened a small space portal,

    and transported the can back to the surface.

    The fingerprint information waspared against the poption database and quickly identified the individual.

    Shirley Lincoln, Doctor of Life Gic Engineering from the University of North Carolina, employed at a bioproductpany, engaged in pharmaceutical research.

    The Blue Star Global United Defense Committee''s backing included several sovereignties, and its execution was beyond question.

    Since this involved global matters of Blue Star, it meant that unless one fled beyond the atmosphere or took refuge in outer space or Cangqiong Star, no one on Blue Star could escape such a powerful collective pursuit.

    The military police raided the biologicalpany immediately, takingplete control of everyone from top to bottom.

    The owner of the fingerprints on the soda can, Shirley Lincoln, had been seconded to anotherpany for technical guidance. Following the trail, they naturally didn''t find her, as the project team was on a business trip in the tropical rainforest. Continue reading stories on empire

    They then pursued into the tropical rainforest. With the help ofmunication and location tracking, they finally found the project team; everyone was present except for Shirley Lincoln herself. When asked, the team said they were conducting normal scientific research and had heard of the name Shirley Lincoln, but no one knew that Dr.

    Shirley had joined the project team, let alonee to the tropical rainforest with them. They had never seen her from start to finish.

    Cover-ups one after another. Before they could delve deeper into their investigation, a middle manager from thepany coborating with the biological productspany that Shirley Lincoln worked for,mitted suicide. Subsequently, clues rted to Shirley Lincoln pointed to him, but due to his suicide, the investigation had to be abruptly halted.

    The consecutive unexpected events made the Blue Star Global Defense Committee feel quite uneasy. Whether it was the nested work rtionships or the sudden suicide, the incidentally discovered lead on Shirley Lincoln became convoluted and mysterious, but it was clear that some unspeakable big secret was hidden behind it.

    On the fifth day of venturing underground.

    The pressure on the various reconnaissance squads increased. The enclosed and solitary nature of the caves, simr to a chamber environment, caused psychological and emotional strain on everyone involved.

    At first, the reconnaissance squad members would relieve their emotions by chatting with each other. But as time passed, they ran out of things to talk about; no one likes incessantly repeating the same topics, and conversations would often die after a few sentences.

    Then they tried ying music. At first, it was effective, but in the nearly closed and dark environment, coupled with the unpredictable dangers, any music not only drained the limited power reserves but also started to sound very eerie.

    Some reconnaissance squads developed internal arguments and conflicts, making it difficult to continue advancing.

    Some simply gave up and started heading back.

    In one reconnaissance squad, two members took a liking to each other and began a romantic rtionship, inadvertently slowing down the pace of the others.

    Some reconnaissance squads mysteriously went missing, even failing to send out an rm. After missing the deadline to check in with the reconnaissance camp multiple times, the spatial ability users and space mages of the Global Defense Committee, along with the backup reconnaissance squad, rushed to thest reported area of the missing squad, but found nothing.

    Not even the numerical direction stickers remained; it was as if the missing squad had never been there.

    However, as more of these idents urred, the well-prepared Blue Star Global United Defense Committee still had no ns to cancel the reconnaissance mission.

    On the seventh day of the underground exploration, the scouting party leader ke suddenly stopped in his tracks.

    He said in a grave voice, "Stop advancing, nobodye forward, fall back! Cecilia, retrieve the drone."

    "Got it!"

    Although the electronics specialist Cecilia Danbers didn''t understand the reason, she still followed themand, using the remote controller in her hand to send out a sharp high-frequency whistle and a longwave radio signal.

    The quad-rotor drone "Cave Dragonfly," upon receiving either one of those, would immediately activate its return program ahead of time.

    This method was only suitable for short-distancemunication. If it went beyond the Cave Dragonfly''s automatic scouting radius, it would fail.

    "What''s happening?"

    Hanna Gagar, who was following behind, looked at ke, who still maintained a walking posture but appeared somewhat stiff.

    She and the others obediently stepped back a few paces as instructed.

    "Landmine, I stepped on one, and now I can''t move!"

    ke was grateful for his prior experience¡ªin fact, it was not the first time he had stepped on a mine.

    But like the previous times, it was a pressure-releasendmine, meaning that it wouldn''t explode just because someone stepped on it; it would explode when they lifted their foot off of it.

    As he stepped down, he instantly triggered the safety mechanism. If he hadn''t reacted in time, both he and Hanna Gagar behind him would have been in trouble.

    The most malicious bounding anti-infantry mine wouldn''t explode immediately after releasing the pressure; instead, it would spring up more than two feet high and perform a 360-degree shrapnel sweep, affecting not just the person who stepped on the mine but everyone in the vicinity.

    "Rookie, you''re up!"

    When in doubt, send in the Rookie¡ªHanna Gagar had almost gotten used tomanding him and thought of him first.

    Who would''ve thought that Chen Fei, the moment he joined the 911 Aircrew Base, was doomed to be a tool, plus, he treated stepping on mines like bungee jumping on drynd, so it was no problem for him.

    The others exchanged nces. This female capitalist really had a heart of stone; she didn''t give a damn about the lives of her subordinates.

    "Wait, I''ming!"

    Chen Fei moved from the fourth position in the team to the front, approaching ke''s side and squatting down.

    ke cautiously warned, "Be careful!"

    Yet, he didn''t dare to move. Instead, he pressed down harder, fearing that any reduction in pressure would set off the explosion.

    The presence of andmine here, although surprising, was not shocking. It indicated that they were getting close to an underground base where someone or something was hiding. Whether it was people or mutants hiding, remained unknown.

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