Chapter 682
Chapter 682 - 668: Local Bully
1,305 words
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7 min read
While Lu Ping’an and his companions were happily farming and raising dogs, this green planet did not find peace.
The Aus people took the initiative to attack the official camp of Four City.
Familiar gunfire and explosions on Earth became reality, as armed mercenaries stormed into the camp, taking advantage of the night’s sudden and lethal attack.
Their targets were clear: the logistics base in the camp and the mortal researchers working there....
That night, the explosion at the munitions depot was clearly visible, even across several kilometers of darkness.
That night, more than five hundred casualties... In the already thinly populated Eastern Country camp, this was an irreversible huge loss, especially since most of the researchers were lost.
What’s left? Those who are either emotionally collapsed or seriously injured probably don’t have the energy to continue climbing the Tech Tree.
The progress of the Eastern Country in climbing the local Tech Tree was severely halted.
"...These people, have they gone mad?! Do they really know what they’ve done!"The roar of anger lingered in the camp as dawn’s light fell.
Returning Explorers, looking at the ruined camp and the faint cries within, clenched their faces in anger.
"No, they know exactly what they’re doing; it’s us who don’t know... We don’t know what we should do!"
"Yes, even though the frontline has already seen combat, we still held onto hope... Haha, the camaraderie between fellow countrymen."
"It’s precisely because you are fellow countrymen, and know the strength of your competition, that you should sever your roots before you grow."
Although everyone understood the reasoning behind the words, most people still held onto hope.
"We’re all the same race, they wouldn’t take it too far, would they?"
"They should know when to stop. Let them fight on the frontline, it shouldn’t affect us, the free explorers..."
"Just be careful. Don’t listen to them exaggerate. They should also consider the potential impact it might have..."
Having these thoughts resurface, someone slapped themselves.
This is the hopeful mindset of the explorers who grew up in the "Peaceful World". They are not yet adapted to the cruel and realistic rules of the jungle, but the opposition is clearly more ruthless and better adapted than the Eastern Country people.
They held onto hope, thinking that the war should be limited to the military, and as long as they weren’t in the combat zones and avoided the Aus people, they would be fine.
Reality, however, slapped everyone in the face...
"... Most of the research equipment has been damaged, and it’s impossible to repair here. Moreover, with the users gone, repairs are pointless."
"All vehicles in the garage were destroyed, I don’t know if any can be pieced together... The fuel storage was also blown up, might as well give up."
"No more food... The stored water has a disgusting fishy smell now, surely can’t touch it."
"The biggest loss is the logistics and research personnel. We’ll likely lose the convenient and useful technological support."
The losses were immense, extremely immense. Before the arrival of the next big ship, let alone climbing the Tech Tree, even those brick-like radios would become limited strategic resources...Well, if the Radio Towers still worked.
"All destroyed; this technology is simple, should be fixable, but our radio experts are gone... the ongoing ’Encryption Project’ is a lost cause, and radio communications will become extremely insecure."
This wave of losses was too heavy, heavy enough that ordinary explorers had to consider their survival.
"Are they trying to drive us away? Or do they want to slaughter us all?" A newcomer was still a little hesitant and uneasy.
As he spoke, faint laughter came from the surroundings.
His mentor fiercely slapped the young man’s head. At this time, don’t embarrass me.
𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
"...I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. At this point, the reason doesn’t matter anymore. After all, the blood debt..."
"...It’s destined to be repaid in blood." The Explorers calmly and silently described what would happen next.
"...I’ve already told you everything I know... You must keep your promise... Let me go... Please, Mr. Dali..."
A stench and groaning came from the dark cage.
He was an unfortunate man with both his eyes gouged out and all his fingernails ripped off, his spine shattered and unable to move, sprawling on the ground.
From his skin color, he was clearly an Eastern Country man, and outside the cage, "Dali," who was playing with a small knife, was also waiting for a signal.
"...The ambush was successful? The intelligence is confirmed, and we’ve retrieved all the ’Vortex Ore’? Alright, good..."
Educated-looking Dali nodded, satisfied after glancing around.
The other two unfortunate individuals in adjacent cages had already succumbed to the stench. To Dali’s amazement, the man before him had struggled to stay alive until this moment when the intelligence was confirmed.
"Release me! Release me! You promised!"
That man heard something and his desire to survive erupted. His weak body squeezed out the last of his strength and even managed a ghastly grin.
Dali laughed as well...a devilish laugh.
Five minutes later, he walked out of the cell alone and casually said to the menial worker outside.
"Someone come and clean the ’game room.’ Tsk, he lost control of his bowels at the end – what a disgusting monkey... "
Dali, a former soldier and now a mercenary, toyed with the "necklace" on his chest, a string of dried tongues with a fresh addition.
"...Heh, becoming a part of my ’Betrayer’s Tongue’ is his only purpose in life."
Dali happily played with his new trophy, which was both his hobby and his "power"... He squinted as he touched the "tongue," feeling the curses and hatred within.
He shivered, then licked his "necklace" with satisfaction before tucking it back into his clothes.
He adjusted his demeanor and attire to at least appear normal on the outside.
After all, the area he was about to enter was not the small base outsiders had estimated... it was an entire underground city!
Spacious streets, large machinery, and bustling crowds were everywhere.
Various beasts and spoils were displayed on carts and platforms, waiting to be divided and distributed in the city square.
Hod Energy Corporation, a large enterprise of the Aus people, owned everything here... Now, Dali was a high-ranking official in their security department.
Outsiders’ estimates were wrong; the Aus people hadn’t arrived early by just a little bit...they had arrived thirteen years early!
Right before Dali’s eyes, on the big screen in the center of the square, a "spaceship" ascended straight up.
It wasn’t huge, accommodating no more than four or five people, but its propulsion broke free of the planet’s gravity at that moment.
"...Vortex Stone, a miraculous gem that converts heat into kinetic energy, allows us to easily develop these ground-to-air vehicles. They are much more practical than those expensive space elevators. I heard there are many Space Elevator projects leading to Divine Ship recently; we might be able to claim an important share in a new market..."
Marvin Hodder, the City Lord and CEO of the local branch, was cheerfully introducing the latest achievements to the special commissioner from headquarters.
That "Space Elevator" was merely a less important factor in the product showcase, and various technology products were on display. Hod company had been deeply rooted in this place for too long...
"This year will be a year of harvest, and our returns will reach new heights... What about the people from Eastern Country and those aliens? Heh, they’re not a problem at all...soon, they’ll be no problem whatsoever."
— End of Chapter 682 —