At the edge of the ruins, the wind was mild, but visibility remained unstable. Lu Ye, Chen Mo, and Lin Lan moved through the abandoned streets, heading toward the location tied to the military's communication frequency.
Zhao Yang and He Xuan stayed behind at the house, maintaining remote support and sensory coverage. Hu Hao had yet to return. The squad's formation had shifted slightly, but their rhythm remained steady.
Chen Mo led the way, his gauntlets swapped for a lighter version—better suited for sudden engagement. He didn't speak, but occasionally glanced back at Lu Ye, as if checking his readiness.
Lin Lan was syncing her perception frequency, ensuring they wouldn't be disrupted by military interference. Lu Ye spoke quietly:
"Gu Qinglan will show up."
Chen Mo nodded.
"She's not the type to hide behind others."
The military's temporary outpost was set up inside an old warehouse. External defenses were minimal, but the interior was saturated with layered sensory fields.
The three were not stopped. Instead, they were guided into a makeshift meeting room.
Gu Qinglan was already waiting. She wore the same gray-blue tactical suit. Her expression was calm. Her voice, measured and unhurried:
"You arrived sooner than I expected."
Lu Ye took a seat.
"We don't like delays."
Lin Lan spoke next:
"We won't sign any agreements. But we're open to exchanging information."
Chen Mo leaned against the doorframe, gaze steady:
"If you're here to test us—go ahead."
Gu Qinglan didn't respond to the provocation. She simply slid a folder across the table.
"This is a magnetic residue map of your previous combat zone." "Our analysis shows your abilities have reached the threshold for higher-dimensional interference."
Lu Ye flipped through the pages, frowning slightly.
"You've been monitoring us?"
Gu Qinglan remained composed.
"Not monitoring. Archiving." "You're not the only squad. And you're not the only variable."
Lin Lan noticed one page had been deliberately folded. She opened it and found a handwritten note:
"Central Command has initiated Phase Two screening." "Target Squad ID: Z-3. Status: Under Observation."
Chen Mo muttered:
"We're Z-3?"
Gu Qinglan nodded.
"Your designation was reassigned after the Zhang Ming incident." "You now fall under the 'Unstable High-Dimensional Contact Group.'"
Lu Ye paused.
"Who's your commanding officer?"
Gu Qinglan didn't answer. She simply closed the folder.
"You don't need to know." "At least not yet."
Chen Mo scoffed.
"Then we don't need to cooperate."
Gu Qinglan looked at him, her tone unchanged:
"You'll meet him eventually." "But not here. And not now."
The meeting ended. The three left the warehouse.
No conflict. No agreement. But information had been exchanged. The boundary had been touched.
Chen Mo walked beside Lu Ye, speaking quietly:
"She's not afraid of us."
Lu Ye nodded.
"She's afraid of whoever's above her."
Lin Lan added:
"She wasn't just delivering data. She was delivering a warning."
The wind picked up across the ruins. The trio quickened their pace.
In the distance, Zhao Yang's blood mist had already extended to cover their return route. He Xuan's disc was syncing the magnetic field.
Lu Ye looked toward the horizon.
"We're not making contact with the military." "We're making contact… with whatever stands behind them."
Chen Mo tightened his gauntlets.