novelblue
Chapter 369: 298: Reaction of Group 117_2
Chapter 369: 298: Reaction of Group 117_2
Chapter 369: Chapter 298: Reaction of Group 117_2
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The strength of the wall couldn’t compare to the Tree Domain, but it was the best that Linshui City could manage under resource constraints.
Though not high, it had greatly helped Linshui City fend off the threats from the monsters on the outskirts, which is why there was an ongoing effort to make it taller.
However, as Zhou Shan Ying and Chen Da approached the increasingly near wall, their mood grew heavier, for they were returning from a defeat.
…..
Linshui City Government Affairs Hall
“Zhou Shan Ying, Chen Da, you two bastards lost seventy tanks for me?! Are you fucking kidding me?”
Lu Changshan, with a face red with rage, looked furiously at Zhou Shan Ying and Chen Da, his neck turning bright red from anger.
Seventy tanks—that was half of his 117th Regiment’s assets. It wasn’t easy to replace them before the apocalypse, and now even if he were killed, not a single new tank could be procured.
Zhou Shan Ying and Chen Da wished to say it was a joke, but the loss of the tanks was a fact they couldn’t argue against.
“Commander, we were useless, we couldn’t hold on to anything,” Zhou Shan Ying said solemnly.
Lu Changshan cursed, “Fuck usefulness, tell me exactly what happened.”
“Initially everything went smoothly; the mobile battalion took over the logistics center and started gathering survivors. The industrial zone was initially explored, and there were Third Order Monsters, but they were manageable.”
“And then?”
Lu Changshan’s face turned grim, knowing the critical changes came afterward.
“I requested reinforcements from the headquarters. After the armored battalion arrived, we launched the attack but didn’t expect the industrial zone to be already occupied by other survivors.”
“What survivors could overpower your two armored battalions?”
“A Fourth Order Contractor.”
Zhou Shan Ying’s face showed bitterness as he said, “I’m certain that the survivors who took over the industrial zone had a Fourth Order Contractor with them. He didn’t even use his full strength; with ease, he blocked the bombardment from seventy tanks and broke through the attack of six Third Order Apostles, including us.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Changshan’s expression changed slightly, his anger receding somewhat as he turned to Chen Da, “Do you also judge it this way?”
“Report, I think Zhou Shan Ying’s judgment is correct. The combat power that person demonstrated is clearly beyond what a Third Order could achieve. Moreover, his Apostle could likely be of a Nest type. We don’t know if he has even stronger battle Apostles. From my perspective, the biggest threat should be the insect swarm,” Chen Da said.
“Insect swarm?”
Lu Changshan’s temple throbbed, feeling as though their words were irritatingly disjointed as he wanted to slap each of them. He didn’t realize he was the one interrupting them.
“Give me the full story.”
….
This time, Lu Changshan didn’t interrupt Zhou Shan Ying and Chen Da’s account. They complemented each other’s stories, detailing every encounter in Huiyuan City’s industrial zone.
But the more he listened, the more grim Lu Changshan’s face became, until it was almost dark and brooding.
An inextinguishable fog, thousands of insect swarms, a Fourth Order Apostle, insect-like subordinates, and that most unnerving statement.
“Tree Domain Su Han.”
Lu Changshan pondered the exact words recounted by Zhou Shan Ying, his brow furrowed as if etched into the shape of a ‘chuan’ character.
“He said he’s taking over Huiyuan City, but then he mentioned Tree Domain. And it seemed like he knew something about you two—didn’t you find that strange?”
“This?”
Zhou Shan Ying and Chen Da exchanged glances. They’d been in a state of mental disarray since their defeat and hadn’t really considered these details. Now that Lu Changshan had mentioned it, they began to realize something.
“From the initial reconnaissance to the combined attack of the armored battalion, not more than seven days passed, and rushing straight to the industrial zone… it seems a bit too urgent, as if they were racing to grab something.”
A sharp look flashed in Lu Changshan’s eyes as he asked, “How many exploration teams haven’t returned?”
Chen Da responded, “Before I set out, four of the six exploration teams had returned. Only the two teams headed towards South City and Qiyuan City hadn’t returned.”
Upon finishing, Chen Da’s face changed as he swiftly grasped the implication, “Commander, are you suggesting defection?”
Lu Changshan’s gaze hardened as he said, “Bullshit, under these circumstances, everyone who dares to go exploring is risking their lives. It’s not defection unless they exchange their lives for it. However, this Su Han’s origins could potentially be linked to those two directions. We might be able to look into it.”
Lu Changshan didn’t like the word ‘defection’, especially in this apocalyptic environment where surviving was often the biggest goal.
No one knew what difficulties an exploration team might encounter, and without concrete information, he was even less inclined to use the word ‘defection’ on his own people.
“Commander, what do we do now?”
“Give up on Huiyuan City.”
Lu Changshan made a decisive call, “Considering what you’ve seen, the power of a Fourth Grade is beyond what ordinary firepower can withstand. All disputes are meaningless, and given that he let you return, he’s at least shown some goodwill.”
Though it felt absurd to acknowledge the goodwill of someone who had seized seventy tanks and over forty armored vehicles, Lu Changshan was certain that Su Han had indeed shown goodwill.
Because he could have killed them and taken everything.
Having lost tank superiority and the leadership of six Apostles in an encounter, it would have been a breeze for Su Han to annihilate two fully-strength battalions.
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