October 6.
In the afternoon, Silver Fox drove Chen Na to the academy. Guan Tong, who had arranged to et them by phone the day before, was already waiting at the gate.
Chen Na hopped out of the car and, spotting Guan Tong, waved and jogged over, “Brother Guan!”
Guan Tong waved back and ca forward to et her.
“Xiao Na, you’ve grown taller again.”
The last ti Guan Tong had seen Chen Na was back during the earthquake rules period. He had been disguised then, so Chen Na didn’t know he was Shadow, she only felt a bit familiar.
That rules period had been more than four months ago, nearly half a year, and Chen Na had shot up another grade in height. Calling her a girl between second and third year of middle school wouldn’t be wrong.
“Hehe.” Chen Na smiled sheepishly, “Maybe the base’s food is better, and there’s also the Mind Power modification factor.”
Guan Tong nodded.
The younger one is when Mind Power awakens, the greater the plasticity for the future. That had long been an open fact. At Chen Na’s age she would receive many dividends.
At that mont Silver Fox parked and ca over. Chen Na introduced, “Brother Guan, this is Sister Silver Fox. Sister Silver Fox, this is Brother… Guan Tong.”
“I know.” Silver Fox took off her sunglasses and extended her hand to Guan Tong, “You, the lecturer temporarily replacing Shi Jingyi, are popular online.”
Guan Tong had t Silver Fox several tis, and she was a competent actress this ti. He shook her hand and said, “I’m just filling in for classes. Shi Jingyi will return next month, and then I’ll stop teaching and leave the academy.”
“Ah?” Chen Na didn’t expect that, and after thinking for a mont she offered, “Then Brother Guan, how about coming to our side? Sister Silver Fox, the base will surely agree, right?”
Silver Fox smiled, “Of course. Talents like Teacher Guan are exactly what the base wants. But it seems Teacher Guan isn’t interested?”
“That’s right.” Guan Tong looked at Chen Na, “Xiao Na, I don’t plan to join you.”
“But… Brother Guan, after you leave the academy, will you go back out into the wild by yourself?”
“We’ll see when the ti cos. For now, shall I give you a tour of the academy?”
“Okay, okay.” Chen Na nodded, “I haven’t been here yet!”
Silver Fox added, “ neither.”
It wasn’t unusual that Chen Na had never been here. Even if she t admission requirents, she was still younger than most students. Entering the academy could lead to many difficulties; it might be better for her to stay outside.
Silver Fox… Guan Tong knew her—mbers of the Squad Dragon Soul were all from military backgrounds. They had likely been selected early during the initial Doomsday Rules stage and trained as an official team. That made academy enrollnt even less necessary.
Guan Tong took the two of them into the academy and showed them around.
Thanks to its naturally beautiful scenery, the academy’s environnt was excellent; walking through it felt on par with visiting a scenic spot.
After the tour, Guan Tong asked, “Xiao Na, I didn’t ask on the phone yesterday. Why did you suddenly co to see
today? Is there sothing going on?”
“Ah, this…” Chen Na hesitated.
Seeing her falter, Guan Tong promptly warned, “If it’s inconvenient, don’t say it. Don’t accidentally violate the rules.”
“That’s true.” Silver Fox agreed, “We’re about to carry out a confidential mission. Xiao Na wanted to see you before we left, so she ca over.”
“I see. So this mission has so risk.”
“Brother Guan, don’t worry. With Sister Silver Fox and many capable people, it’ll be very safe.”
“Mm.”
After they left, Guan Tong used Body Swap to return to the shelter.
When he got back, Coal Ball wasn’t there—probably gone hunting in the mountains again.
He turned on his computer and logged into Ascendant Ho. The user Dead End had sent a new ssage while he was offline.
Dead End: “Commander hid our existence of the contact people. After making us swear not to betray, she told us the contact people will arrive at the border in five days, to guide us out of Beixing to safe locations abroad.”
Dead End: “If I can’t get written guarantees from you and the Administrator in these days, I absolutely will not reveal the eting location. By the ti the Commander leaves Beixing, it will be much harder for you to take revenge.”
Five days…
Guan Tong read the ssage and knew Dead End wasn’t stupid. He would demand a precise written guarantee.
During the period of The Liar’s Self-Punishnt rule, whether spoken, written, or posted as online data stream, expressions are bound by the rule’s power.
If Guan Tong disagreed inwardly but sent a ssage promising a guarantee, that would constitute deception and break the rule, and he would be punished.
Since he had never intended to give such a guarantee from the start, Dead End’s warning didn’t worry him.
“Jiang Lanying wants to flee abroad, but where can she go? After the Human Consortium was established, mber states naturally have extradition treaties. Is she planning to flee sowhere outside Human Consortium mber countries?”
“...No matter where she goes, whatever these contact people are, Dead End is right on one point. If she manages to escape abroad, finding and taking revenge on her will indeed beco much more difficult.”
Guan Tong thought: during this rules period he had to resolve this old case that had entangled him for over a year.
He did the math. Today was Wednesday. Jiang Lanying’s eting with the contact people was in five days, next Tuesday.
According to his schedule he had class then, so he’d have to ask for one day off.
Before that day he must track account login devices to confirm Dead End’s location.
…
Five days later, October 12.
“Falling Petals Plan” operation day.
Whirrrrrrr!
The sound of spinning propellers was harsh. Dressed in combat fatigues, Chen Na covered her ears in discomfort and sat down inside the transport plane.
Others boarded with her. Among those she knew well were only Silver Fox and Dragon Soul. The rest, though also mbers of official teams, were only acquaintances.
Once everyone was aboard, the plane took off and headed toward the target.
“Our mission this ti is simple: capture the target personnel, and eliminate that target’s subordinates,” Captain Dragon Soul said, tapping his smart wristwatch a few tis. A photo projected into the air.
The silver-haired elder in the photo was the operation’s target, Jiang Lanying. The projection then cycled through images of several short-haired young won.
Though their faces varied, their temperants were eerily similar; arranged together the photos were chilling.
A newly added mber of Squad Dragon Soul looked at the short-haired won and couldn’t help but snort, “Captain Long, these people look like they were stamped from the sa mold.”
Others nodded in agreent.
Dragon Soul explained, “According to our investigation, target Jiang Lanying has secretly cultivated trusted subordinates over the years. These young won are orphans she took in through special channels and trained intensively in combat and tradecraft.”
“Isn’t that grooming suicide squads?” a squad mber exclaid.
“In short, these won are utterly loyal to the target and will follow orders without question,” Dragon Soul warned. “As direct subordinates they’ve received a lot of resources and training. Their combat power should not be underestimated. When you encounter them, show no rcy—eliminate imdiately.”
“Yes!”
Beep beep beep.
A notification light flashed on the watch. Dragon Soul pressed a side button and a new 3D projection appeared.
In the projection, a middle-aged man sat behind a long table, expression stern.
If Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian could see the projection, they would instantly recognize the refined temperant of the man—this was Li ng, forr head of the Yunhua Police Departnt.
“Team mbers, I am now providing you with remote information support and communicating with you under the watch of the higher-ups. Please listen carefully to my instructions.”
“Yes, Section Chief Li.”
Li ng had been transferred into the national special kidnapping investigation division over a year ago. He is now a section chief, having risen quickly—clearly favored by the higher-ups.
Li ng said, “According to our investigation, the target and her subordinates are hiding in Xun’an Town along the northern border. You will arrive at the town in six hours—your requirent is to complete operations and capture within three hours.”
“Yes!” Dragon Soul replied, “We will complete the mission decisively!”
“Chen Na.”
Suddenly called by na, Chen Na, though a bit nervous, imdiately responded, “Section Chief Li, please speak.”
Li ng said, “The target is very cunning. She has set up an electronic shielding interference device in the town and may possess hidden barrier tools. Your sensing ability is the key to finding the target, understand?”
“Chen Na understands!”
She knew she was chosen to use her perception to search for the enemy; when the mont ca she would not fail.
“Good. The transport will land at a distance from the town. You’ll enter on foot. Once you enter the shielded area our communication may be cut off. At that ti Dragon Soul will have full command. Be cautious.”
“Yes!”
“Oh.” Li ng reminded them, “From continuous surveillance, the target will not use the electronic shield continuously. They sotis turn it off. This may indicate the target is contacting unknown external personnel.”
Contacting unknown external personnel…
Dragon Soul asked gravely, “Section Chief Li, does this an the enemy might have reinforcents?”
“That’s right,” Li ng said, “So be extra careful. Also, as the first wave of action team mbers, you are not completely isolated. Reinforcents will follow up in about an hour.”
“Understood.”
The transmission ended temporarily. Knowing the enemy might include unknown reinforcents, everyone’s faces grew serious.
Known enemies are worriso, but unknown ones are the most dangerous.
Chen Na silently steeled herself. She knew her role was important; whether they could find and capture the target quickly would depend on her performance.
“Don’t be nervous, Xiao Na.” Silver Fox squeezed Chen Na’s palm and smiled at her, “Just perform as in training.”
“Mm, I know.”
“Silver Fox, when we enter the town don’t run off.” Dragon Soul said, “Stick close to Chen Na and protect her.”
“Understood.”
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