Translator: CinderTL
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blazing fireballs erupted skyward, the earth trembling under the thunderous roar of artillery shells.
Buildings collapsed, debris flying in all directions. The final shell was about to strike the convoy.
"Boss, get down!"
The security captain's face paled as he moved to activate the Force Field Shield.
But at that critical moment, someone moved even faster.
Whoosh!
Boom!
The shell detonated mid-air with a deafening blast.
Yet, remarkably, the shockwave didn't spread an inch beyond the point of impact.
"What is this...?"
The security captain's pupils constricted as he saw electromagnetic arcs silently coalescing into a three-dimensional triangle high above the convoy, sealing off all the explosive force.
In the next instant—
Whoosh!
A fleeting flash of dark gold shimmered, and a slender, levitating Flying Shuttle materialized inside the vehicle.
Seated beside Lin Hao, the white-haired old man in a tailored suit, resembling a butler, maintained an impassive expression. Behind him, a tiny, perfectly circular hole had appeared in the bulletproof window.
The edges of the hole were impossibly smooth, and the surrounding glass remained intact, defying all logic with its complete lack of cracks.
"Young Master," Liu Bo said calmly, his voice gentle. "Two armed factions are engaged in a firefight. Should we intervene?"
The sounds of explosions and gunfire from the street ahead grew louder, punctuated by intermittent screams and wails.
Lin Hao smiled faintly, glancing at the Security Captain and Wang Dehai, who sat across from him on the leather sofa, their faces a mixture of shock and apprehension.
"Boss Wang, it seems Luoyue isn't as peaceful as you claimed."
His tone was half-mocking, half-serious. Under the weight of several pairs of eyes, Wang Dehai finally snapped out of his daze.
Damn these armed factions!
He cursed inwardly, knowing that if he couldn't resolve this crisis, his future partnership with Jadeite Biotech would undoubtedly suffer.
"My apologies, Director Lin, for the disturbance."
Forcing himself to regain composure, Wang Dehai hastily waved for the Security Captain to investigate the situation and resolve the matter.
Rumble, rumble.
Soon, the sound of tank treads grinding against the ground filled the air.
Before the Security Captain and his men could move far, the smoke cleared to reveal a massive, brown metal beast lumbering into view.
Two brown tanks brazenly crushed the concrete road, pulverizing debris and snapping fire hydrants as they rolled into sight.
Behind them followed an armored vehicle bristling with heavy machine guns and three pickup trucks packed with armed soldiers.
The crunch of treads against the pavement echoed in the air as cold, impassive eyes turned to watch the convoy.
The tank loomed like a ferocious beast, blocking their path. On the armored vehicle, a Luoyue man wearing a brown camouflage uniform and bearing the shoulder insignia of a field-grade officer frowned slightly.
"Tonghe Corporation?"
His gaze swept past the armed and vigilant bodyguards in suits, finally settling on the license plate of the extended Feichi sedan.
Behind him, over a dozen camouflaged soldiers had already dismounted from the pickup trucks and surrounded the area, weapons at the ready.
In an instant, Wang Dehai's security captain, his face grim, strode forward with his men to engage the officer in conversation.
"It's Zhuo Lie's men."
Inside the extended Feichi sedan, Wang Dehai's expression turned grave as he peered out the window, recognizing the origins of the armed force.
The explosions continued to light up the sky, and smoke still drifted from distant streets.
Sporadic gunfire echoed from unseen alleyways, while residents along the street huddled behind locked doors. Those hiding in roadside corners trembled, their faces pale with fear.
"Zhuo Lie?"
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to one of surprise and seriousness.
Liu Bo and Yuan Yueshan exchanged tense glances, their vigilance heightened.
During their journey, they had naturally prepared by gathering intelligence on the local armed factions.
Eastern Luoyue alone was home to over a dozen such groups, none under military control.
The largest and most powerful of these was Zhuo Lie's forces.
"Years ago, Zhuo Lie somehow obtained funding and acquired Flying General-level Biological Modification resources, making him the dominant force in the region."
"He later declared himself a general and has been entrenched along the eastern border, near the Niduo Mountains and Niduo Country."
Wang Dehai, worried they might not understand the situation, offered this explanation.
Luoyue's culture had been deeply influenced by the Red Nation, and the Flying General-level classification was deeply ingrained in their society. Only those at this level were considered true powerhouses.
Each general ruled as a local warlord, controlling their own territory.
Conflicts were common, but the recent internal strife, marked by the assassinations of several Luoyue Nation government officials in the capital, had plunged the region into utter chaos.
"So, his forces are trying to seize Doma City?" Lin Hao asked, understanding the implication as he gazed out the window.
Doma City was a crucial transportation hub in eastern Luoyue. If he were a warlord, he would undoubtedly want to control it.
In the tense silence, the distant sounds of gunfire gradually faded.
Seeing the armored vehicles, tanks, and the stern-faced colonel towering over the Security Captain from his armored vehicle, they knew the armed conflict had likely reached its conclusion.
"Director Lin, rest assured," Wang Dehai said. "While Zhuo Lie is indeed domineering, the Eastern Overseas Red Nation Chamber of Commerce still wields considerable influence."
Fearing that being seen as weak would harm future business prospects in the Red Nation, Wang Dehai quickly spoke up.
As if on cue, the tanks and armored vehicles blocking the road began to move, clearing a path.
"As expected of Boss Wang," Lin Hao said with a faint smile. He preferred not to resort to force unless absolutely necessary, avoiding conflict with local armed factions.
Chen Feng remained calm throughout the entire ordeal, watching silently as the vehicles started up again and slowly advanced.
Camouflaged soldiers with rifles glared coldly as they passed, the brown tank turrets brushing past their shoulders.
As a precaution, the Security Captain remained standing by the roadside, intending to ride in the last vehicle.
The extended black sedan crushed debris under its tires, the red wine inside sloshing gently.
They were about to clear the checkpoint and leave the area.
But then...
"Halt."
A cold, hard voice rang out, the unfamiliar Luoyue language instantly translated by Star Spirit.
Click!
In an instant, every armed soldier raised their rifles again, aiming at them. The heavy machine guns on the armored vehicles and the tank cannons swiveled into position.
"Colonel Tiehe?" The Security Captain's expression shifted as he stood beside the convoy, looking up at the colonel on the armored vehicle.
The man had tanned skin and a ruthless face that looked to be in his mid-thirties.
Without uttering a word, the man gazed down at the extended limousine, his brown eyes piercing the bulletproof windows like knives, skimming over the tiny holes.
As if seeing Lin Hao, Chen Feng, and the others inside, he narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly once more.
"Boss Wang, from today onward, Doma City falls under our command."
"General Zhuo Lie specifically instructed me to convey this message: he expects the Overseas Red Nation Chamber of Commerce to understand the rules."
His icy gaze and clear, precise words darkened Wang Dehai's expression.
The car window rolled down, and Wang Dehai remained seated, meeting the man's gaze.
"Are you threatening me?"
His plump face hardened, Wang Dehai stared back unflinchingly.
While Tonghe Corporation couldn't rival Zhuo Lie's power, the man before him was merely a subordinate.
Moreover, he had the backing of the Overseas Red Nation Chamber of Commerce.
For a moment, their eyes locked.
The colonel remained unexpectedly calm, even glancing casually at Chen Feng and the others.
"You... I can let you pass."
"But you seem to have forgotten..."
A cold smile twisted his lips, revealing a mocking expression.
"General Zhuo Lie despises Red Nation people above all else."
Click!
As his words landed, a squad of armed soldiers emerged from the street ahead, having finished their firefight and now rushing toward them.
Several more tanks and armored vehicles approached from the sides, while dozens of camouflaged soldiers, rifles cocked and rocket launchers slung over their shoulders, surrounded the convoy.
"You—!"
Wang Dehai's face darkened as he subtly signaled with his eyes.
The Security Captain outside the vehicle reacted instantly. His Fourth-Tier Peak Energy Device activated, causing his body to swell visibly.
But before he could retaliate, the colonel sneered coldly.
"A mere Fourth-Tier Titanium-grade dares to resist?"
Boom!!
With a casual gesture, a Fifth-Grade Force Field erupted like a descending hammer.
The surrounding air trembled as the colonel maintained perfect control over the field.
The Security Captain's sunglasses shattered, his massive frame shuddering violently. Under the colonel's oppressive force, he buckled at the knees, as if about to collapse.
"Boss Wang, your men are remarkably disobedient."
"It seems you'll have to stay as well."
The colonel's mocking laughter echoed through the air as he seized control of the situation.
The concrete beneath the Security Captain's feet cracked and crumbled, while his Titanium-grade body creaked and groaned under the immense pressure.
Boss Wang's face twisted with fury and shock. He had never imagined his opponent would undergo such radical upgrades, reaching Fifth-Tier status.
"You—!"
His voice trembled with rage, yet he felt utterly powerless.
By now, he knew beyond doubt that this operation was specifically targeting the Overseas Red Nation Chamber of Commerce.
For a moment, the fat face beneath the mediterranean hairstyle struggled, while the Fifth-Grade Force Field pressing down from outside felt like a mountain crushing everything.
At this critical moment, just as they were about to be overwhelmed, Lin Hao, sitting across from him, shook his head gently.
"Honestly..."
Taking a sip of the red wine in his glass, he glanced helplessly at Chen Feng.
They had intended to discreetly search for Yang Wudi and Celine, but this incident had derailed their plans.
And now...
"Kill them."
Chen Feng's voice remained calm as he sat motionless, his body sinking slightly into the leather sofa.
His thick arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes had closed at some point.
Across from him, Wang Dehai froze, while the colonel, who understood the translation, sneered and shook his head.
"Such arrogance."
Crack!
The ground fractured, and concrete fragments shattered into dust.
The fully unleashed Fifth-Grade Force Field surged like a tsunami, crushing down on the convoy and engulfing everything.
The Security Captain, who had been repeatedly bending at the knees, staggered as if struck by a heavy blow, about to collapse.
But then...
Whoosh!
A flash of dark gold light tore through the oppressive force like an arrow, piercing the tsunami-like pressure and shattering the engulfing force field.
The colonel's gaze sharpened, his biomimetic brown eyes darting rapidly to track the shadow of the dark gold Flying Shuttle.
"A Tier 5 Mech Warrior?"
His brow furrowed slightly. Anticipating this, he activated his ion shield, which materialized before him like a honeycomb, intercepting the attack.
Sparks flew as metallic clangor reverberated across the battlefield, the deafening impact causing everyone's eardrums to ache.
Locking eyes with the white-gloved, white-haired butler inside the vehicle, he let out a cold snort. Brown liquid metal rapidly coalesced around his neck, forming a protective collar.
"Open fire!"
With the Armament Modules fully engaged, the colonel's command rang out. Behind him, the armored vehicles and soldiers unleashed a relentless barrage.
Large-caliber bullets tore through the air and shattered stone, transforming into a metallic meteor shower.
Missiles roared from their launchers, trailing flames and shockwaves, each carrying devastating power.
Witnessing this, Wang Dehai and his suited bodyguards felt a chill run down their spines.
Just as they braced for annihilation,
Boom!!
The vehicle door exploded, sending shrapnel flying in all directions.
Yuan Yueshan, who had remained silent beside Chen Feng throughout the ordeal, finally acted.
Activating his Fifth-Grade Force Field in perfect synchronization, a blue arc of energy expanded instantaneously.
Before the incoming artillery shells could reach their targets, they detonated mid-air in a series of thunderous explosions!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The muffled blasts shook the earth and sky.
Shrapnel rained down in all directions, but with even greater speed, it reversed course, instantly killing the armed soldiers where they stood.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Blood and gore splattered as hearts were pierced and heads exploded.
In a single breath, over a dozen corpses lay sprawled on the ground.
The pickup truck's windows shattered one after another, while sparks flew from the armored vehicle as it was struck repeatedly, wisps of gray smoke rising from the impacts.
"A Fifth-Tier Cyborg?"
Colonel Tiehe, his entire body encased in brown metal, showed a flicker of surprise.
The Red Nation people were hiding such power?
Could they have an advanced shield generator?
As these questions flashed through his mind, Yuan Yueshan vanished from his spot.
The Scanning Module automatically locked onto his afterimage. Without hesitation, Colonel Tiehe activated his core energy, his metallic right arm clenching into a fist as he swung it forward with devastating force.
Boom!!
The air cracked like thunder, unleashing a shockwave that shattered the surrounding concrete ground into a spiderweb pattern. The ground then buckled inward, sinking several feet like a deep pit.
The violent shockwave sent the pickup truck and Armored Vehicle flying, while the Security Captain slid back dozens of meters.
His stunned gaze locked onto the center of the battlefield, where only two figures remained: a blue metallic silhouette and a brown metallic silhouette, their fists locked in a clash.
"Something's wrong," the colonel murmured, his sharp senses detecting an anomaly.
The force surging through his fist had already surpassed the threshold of an ordinary Fifth-Tier, approaching the level of a Peak Fifth-Tier.
Crack!
Boom!!
The ground beneath his feet shattered again as he redirected the force and retreated half a step, his eyes fixed on Yuan Yueshan.
Two Peak Fifth-Tiers, he thought grimly, a sense of foreboding settling in his heart.
But in that instant—
Whoosh!
A piercing whistle tore through the air. In the smoke-filled sky, a cone-shaped shockwave materialized as a white streak, cleaving the heavens.
A dark-gold Flying Shuttle had appeared without warning, streaking through the air like lightning. It passed behind him in a blur and vanished instantly.
Pfft!
Blood sprayed into the air as the colonel's eyes widened in shock.
A tiny hole had been pierced through the brown metallic visor, and a thin stream of blood trickled from the center of his forehead like a delicate spring.
His consciousness fading, the colonel's metallic visor liquefied and receded.
His pupils contracted, his gaze fixed on the white-haired butler who had emerged from the vehicle. The dark gold Flying Shuttle, now cleansed of blood, hovered beside him.
"Peak Fifth-Tier..."
His remaining consciousness was filled with shock and disbelief. He never imagined his opponent had been concealing such power.
Thud!
The corpse crashed to the ground, sending dust billowing into the air.
Warm blood stained the earth crimson, seeping into the cracks.
Yuan Yueshan stood his ground, snorting coldly as he surveyed the scattered remnants of the armed forces.
In the distance, the Security Captain and Wang Dehai, still inside the vehicle, stared with wide eyes, frozen in shock.
"Heh, it's always more reliable when Liu Bo handles things," Lin Hao remarked with a smile, showering the gentlemanly Liu Bo with praise.
Chen Feng, who had been sitting beside him with his eyes closed the entire time, shook his head silently at the comment.
This guy...
No wonder he secured the Director's seat at Jadeite Biotech.
He's truly becoming more and more shrewd.
(End of the Chapter)
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