March 12, 2505 AD
Long Feng was the first to enter the elevator. Long Bao and Long Nu nodded at him and strode in.
Long Feng pulled out a pale purple crystal card from his person, swiped it lightly over the card reader on the right side of the elevator door, and casually entered the number 172 on the keypad. A gentle, computer-synthesized female voice announced: "Welcome, Major Long Feng. Please note, the elevator has been locked and will begin descending immediately."
The elevator swiftly descended at twice the normal acceleration rate.
In this base, whenever Special A1 members used facilities like elevators, the main control computer would automatically lock them down for exclusive use by Special A1 personnel. This was both a privilege and a consideration for ordinary base members who couldn't handle the high speeds Long Feng and his team were accustomed to. As a result, whenever someone with a pale purple crystal card appeared, elevators, escalators, automatic conveyor belts, and other facilities would essentially clear out automatically.
At a depth of 860 meters underground, Long Feng and the other two strode out of the elevator. Three faint green beams of light scanned them from head to toe before they proceeded into a 200-meter-long, 20-meter-wide metal passage. The walls of the passage were densely covered with one-centimeter-wide hexagonal holes, emitting glaring white light from within.
The same gentle female voice sounded: "Please remain where you are."
Long Feng and Long Bao froze, simultaneously turning to look at Long Nu, whose forehead, chest, groin, and four joints were already targeted by fine white beams. Long Nu frowned, pulled out a shimmering object from his person, and said calmly: "Downtown antique boutique, one jade inkstone from 1672 AD, weighing 1.372 kilograms."
A combat robot made of ultra-high-hardness alloy, resembling a human skeleton and radiating a pale glow, suddenly materialized three meters ahead. It swiftly approached Long Nu, reached out to take the inkstone, its eyes flashing red as the inkstone was pitifully reduced to fragments. A cold, low voice issued from the robot's mouth: "Normal, no hazardous items."
Several beams of light in different colors enveloped Long Nu. After a thorough scan, the gentle female voice said with a hint of amusement, "Major Long Nu, please do not bring non-standard items exceeding 500 grams into the passage next time."
Long Nu replied irritably, "Seventy-nine thousand credits. I'll put the bill on the base's account." He then strode forward after Long Feng. The female voice chuckled, "Sorry, your public account only has a balance of sixty thousand credits. The remaining nineteen thousand will be deducted from your personal account." The combat robot had already slowly retracted into the floor.
Exiting the passage, they saw countless soldiers bustling about intently. Four-wheeled base vehicles whizzed past the three. Over a hundred soldiers, each over two meters tall and exceptionally robust, were clad in powered combat armor and shouldering heavy particle beam cannons. They patrolled slowly in groups of three or five across the vast space, which measured over two hundred meters in both length and width.
Suddenly, a piercing sound of a high-energy laser firing came from the passage behind them, followed by a woman's sharp cry: "Nuwa, it's me, Ling Xue! Don't open fire recklessly!" Over a dozen patrol soldiers quickly rushed over, aiming their two-centimeter-diameter particle beam cannons toward the passage.
Long Feng and the other two turned around to see Ling Xue awkwardly pulling out over a dozen packs of snacks like chocolate and jam-filled biscuits from her person. On the metal floor in front of her, a fiery red spot was slowly fading. The gentle female voice of the base's main control computer, Nüwa, came through: "Identity confirmed, Captain Ling Xue. Next time, please refrain from running in the inspection channel before your identity is verified."
Ling Xue stuck out her tongue, picked up the scattered wrappers from the ground, dashed out in one breath, snorted fiercely at the ten patrol soldiers, caught up with Long Feng, and urgently asked: "Hey, little brother, what's the matter that made big sister come pick you up? If there's anything fun, you must remember to take me along."
Long Feng and the other two ignored her, striding towards the entrance of a corridor, with Ling Xue chattering incessantly as she closely followed.
Suddenly, an authoritative shout came from the side: "Ling Xue, halt, return to your post." Ling Xue jolted, quickly turned around to give a crisp military salute, and said loudly: "Yes, Dad—ah, no, General Ling." Immediately lowering her hand, she muttered under her breath: "I'm off duty already."
Long Feng and the other two had already entered the corridor. Twelve combat robots coldly blocked Ling Xue's path. Ling Xue pouted and complained to the middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an aura of stern integrity standing ten meters away: "Dad, if it weren't for you stopping me, I could've slipped in to see what's going on."
General Ling chuckled a few times: "Just try it. Even if you clung to Long Feng, you'd still be shot full of holes. You don't understand the rules at all—with your security clearance, do you really think you could get in there?" He glared at Ling Xue, then strode into the corridor. The twelve robots quickly cleared a path, but their cold gun barrels remained firmly aimed at Ling Xue, who looked annoyed and was frantically chewing on a piece of chocolate.
March 12, 2505, 15:17
When General Ling entered the conference hall, nineteen of the twenty-three Special A1 members had already arrived. Two minutes later, the remaining four members rushed in.
In the circular conference hall, Marshal Long sat in the central chair, flanked by thirteen generals and twenty-seven lieutenant generals.
Marshal Long spoke in his characteristically icy tone: "Your first official mission is to cooperate with a special search team from the 19th Heavy Space Assault Corps on the ninth planet of the Orion Arm. You will search a planet that has undergone terraforming for less than a decade to locate an unmanned spacecraft and retrieve its data."
A young lieutenant general with fair complexion and long eyebrows slanting toward his temples said gently: "This is the thirteenth probe we launched to explore the deep regions of the galaxy. According to reports from several monitoring stations in the Orion Arm, it has obtained highly valuable military intelligence from star systems over 2.7 million light-years away. However, during its jump back to the Orion constellation, it was suddenly disrupted by spatial turbulence and thrown onto a minor planet 17 light-years and 3,800 light-seconds from the ninth planet of the Orion system. Fortunately, we've been terraforming that planet for nine and a half years, so you'll be able to operate there without difficulty."
His fingers tapped a few keys on the personal computer built into the conference table, and a pale blue light screen descended from the center of the ceiling, displaying a three-dimensional image of a small spacecraft—twin-hulled, with small delta wings, measuring twenty meters in length and less than five meters in width.
Marshal Long said in a low voice, "What you need to note is that the spacecraft's space jump was artificially interfered with. At the moment when the spatial state transitioned from unstable to stable, a high-energy particle beam was fired toward its jump exit. At that time, within three hundred light-seconds of the treaty port, only a large freighter from the New Sun Empire was present. You understand what I mean. The Supreme Military Commission authorizes you to take any necessary means to ensure the security of the data."
General Ling interjected, "As far as my personal feelings go, even if you kill all the beings on that freighter, I can file a report stating that the freighter disappeared after being caught in a black hole. Understood?" All the high-ranking officers nodded in unison, adding heavy emphasis to General Ling's words.
Long Feng said loudly: "Mission details understood. First, retrieve the missing spacecraft. Second, eliminate that cargo ship if necessary. The New Japanese Empire's cargo ship." A sharp glint simultaneously flashed in the eyes of all twenty-three young Special A1 members. Marshal Long nodded with satisfaction and said in a low voice: "You will depart in two days. Two space assault divisions have already set out. They will establish spacetime coordinates to allow your direct jump. That asteroid is near the spheres of influence of the Russian Federation, the Republic of America, and the South American Alliance - proceed with caution. If combat occurs, immediately return to base." Long Feng and the others nodded silently.
March 13, 2505, 7:30
Wearing only tight-fitting underwear, Long Feng activated the 10x gravity system in his training room, doing push-ups while gasping for breath. His drenched body revealed nearly perfect muscle definition.
"Nine hundred ninety-nine, one thousand." Long Feng abruptly sprang up, leaped onto the high-speed treadmill, and sprinted at 150 meters per second. His legs had become a blurry mass of gray shadows. After running the equivalent of 150 kilometers in place, Long Feng jumped off the treadmill, slowly shut down the tenfold gravity system, opened the training room door, and entered his bedroom.
A sharp scream suddenly rang out as Ling Xue cursed, "Long Feng, you pervert! Wearing so little in broad daylight?" A desk lamp came hurling toward him. Long Feng pointed a finger, and the lamp halted less than twenty centimeters from his head, suspended motionless in the air before vanishing with a 'whoosh' and reappearing in its original place.
Quickly pulling on a pair of trousers, Long Feng said coldly, "It seems you're the one illegally intruding into my bedroom. How I choose to dress in my own bedroom is perfectly legal."
Ling Xue finally opened her eyes at this moment, grinning as she pulled out several big red apples and a bunch of bananas from the large bag beside her. With a somewhat sneaky expression, she whispered, "So what exactly are they sending you guys to do? Tell your big sister here—after all, I've had your back for two years, haven't I? If there's any excitement, I wanna join in on the fun too."
Long Feng replied coldly, reciting as if from a manual: "Military Confidentiality Regulation Article 18: Strictly prohibit inquiring about any military plans unrelated to oneself. Article 19: Strictly prohibit disclosing any military plans related to oneself. Article 20: Promptly report any individuals or organizations attempting to gather intelligence on military plans involving oneself."
Ling Xue immediately deflated, lazily saying, "Alright, alright, consider these things I bought a waste then. Hmph, why is stuff shipped from Earth so expensive anyway? The locally grown fruits taste just the same. There goes half a month's salary."
Long Feng walked over, reached out and grabbed Ling Xue's shoulder. Ling Xue suddenly cried out: "What are you doing? Pervert…" She slapped Long Feng's hand hard. Long Feng said coldly: "You're sitting on my military uniform." Ling Xue opened her mouth wide, letting Long Feng pull his military jacket out from under her. It took her a long while to slowly close her mouth, murmuring: "That's right, how old are you guys anyway? Especially since you're all so cold—you wouldn't even know how to act like a pervert."
March 12, 2505, 9:00
Long Feng appeared at the base library, in the special A1 reading room. Four or five members were already scattered throughout the over 300-square-meter room, quietly reading old-fashioned printed books. When they saw Long Feng arrive, they all stood up and saluted him, but what came out of their mouths was a word that should never appear in the military: "Boss, morning."
Long Feng nodded faintly and sat down at a personal reading terminal. Ling Xue, who had followed behind, was once again stopped by the library staff with great embarrassment and stomped out angrily.
Long Feng put on the 3D helmet, and Nuwa's voice sounded softly: "Major Long Feng, what kind of information would you like to read?" At the same time, a three-dimensional image of a young girl with bright eyes and gleaming teeth, smiling charmingly and occasionally playfully transforming into a little bird or puppy, appeared before Long Feng's eyes.
Long Feng paused for a moment before saying: "The New Sun Empire."
Nuwa giggled: "This is the eighth time you've read the same information within a year. Do you have any questions?"
Long Feng nodded: "The reason for the sudden collapse of an empire with over a hundred million people, which includes more than five gaps in the historical records. And how, with only three million remaining survivors, the New Sun Empire managed to build a population of over five hundred million within five hundred years."
Nuwa shrugged: "Take your time reading. Marshal Long is calling me over there, and it's quite taxing for me to split my attention and talk to two people at once. Hmm, there's no information about the collapse of the Japanese Empire in my database. You'll have to read it yourself."
Long Feng understood clearly in his heart: Nuwa was designed to serve hundreds of millions of individual terminals simultaneously—would she really find it taxing to talk to two people at once? Moreover, she only said she had no information about the collapse of the old empire. Computers are not allowed to lie, so that must mean she does have information about the rapid expansion of the current New Sun Empire.
A female voice echoed by Long Feng's ear as a three-dimensional image of a small island appeared before his eyes.
The melodious female voice narrated: "In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the ancient Japanese Empire was one of the top three economic powers on Earth. Despite its small territory and lack of resources, which necessitated reliance on imported materials for industrial production, its world-leading technological prowess meant its products represented the most advanced level on the planet at that time."
Long Feng selected fast-forward. After the screen flickered for three or four seconds, the female voice continued: "Everything changed in the first few years of the 21st century. According to compiled records, the old Japanese Empire had invested in two enterprises in Shanghai, now part of the Earth Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Both were attacked overnight by unknown individuals, resulting in the disappearance of all employees. Six months later, a large-scale terrorist incident occurred on the Japanese mainland, dealing a fatal blow to Japan's society and economy."
Long Feng asked coldly, "More detailed information." The female voice carried a hint of grievance: "Major Long Feng, I don't have more detailed information. The only thing certain is that no terrorist group from any ancient Earth country claimed responsibility for the above incidents, and those who attacked the old Japanese Empire were blown to pieces by the high-energy explosives on their own bodies. With the technology at the time, genetic testing to confirm their identities was impossible."
Long Feng murmured, "Dead soldiers, dead soldiers… Which country in ancient Earth would have people like this?"
The girl said playfully, "Hmm, I don't know about other countries, but ancient China had many such people… Hehe, don't take it seriously, just a joke, just a joke…"
Long Feng commanded, "Continue."
The female voice continued in a rapid stream: "Subsequently, for unknown reasons, the already-vanished terrorist attacks reemerged on an even larger scale, targeting the former Japanese Empire. At that time, the Earth's Pacific Plate was undergoing intense activity, and Mount Fuji, the symbol of the former Japanese Empire, was already building up toward a major eruption. Terrorists detonated two low-yield nuclear warheads in the crater of Mount Fuji, causing the energy accumulated in the Pacific Plate to erupt violently near the mountain. Within a week, the former Japanese Empire's four main islands were reduced to three."
Long Feng rubbed his chin and asked in a low voice, "Which organization could get their hands on low-yield nuclear warheads?"
The girl also sounded troubled and said helplessly, "At that time, the Old Russian Federation's control over its military was not very meticulous—anyone could get their hands on them. After that terrorist incident, residents of the Old Japanese Empire suffered mass casualties due to malicious hoarding of essential supplies. With several nuclear power plants sabotaged, the three islands of the Old Japanese Empire became uninhabitable. The Old United Nations organization also discovered they were researching gene weapons and imposed sanctions on the entire nation. So, they began migrating to Africa."
Long Feng stopped her. Yes, what followed was the African War, where countless soldiers died mysteriously, while China miraculously had only a dozen soldiers suffer scraped skin during training. Then came Fire Phoenix and Blue Fire, the two economic entities that remain China's largest corporate groups to this day. They acquired all the enterprises of the Old Japanese Empire on its three remaining islands and took possession of the essence of its technological achievements. It was precisely because of their acquisition that over three million residents of the Old Japanese Empire managed to survive, eventually establishing the New Japanese Empire alongside overseas Japanese descendants. Just as it was five hundred years ago, the New Japanese Empire, like a mad dog, has once again begun its petty maneuvers against China.
Long Feng directly called Nuwa: "I want to review the materials on the rise of the New Japanese Empire."
Nuwa replied bluntly: "No, your clearance level is insufficient. Only marshals of one star or higher are authorized to access that information. Come back and make the request when you've achieved the rank of one-star marshal or higher, such as a three-star marshal. Additionally, your personal equipment has been fully prepared. You may collect it from the warehouse at any time. Your departure is scheduled for 21:30 tomorrow."
Long Feng indifferently removed his helmet and strode out of the reading room.
At the other end of the base, in Marshal Long's office, he frowned deeply and muttered: "You're not the only one who wants to know the reason—I want to know too. The more I look at those records, the more confused I become. Probably only God knows what exactly happened five hundred years ago."