Zhuang Heng’s thoughts raced within his mind, but his face remained devoid of any expression.
He spoke, his voice as calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter.
“Colonel Yan.”
“Present.”
“Your command was ineffective, and your dereliction of duty is severe.”
Yan Pengcheng bowed even lower.
“You bear the inescapable responsibility for the annihilation of the 3rd Mobile Brigade.”
“Yes. This subordinate admits his guilt.”
Zhuang Heng fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking again.
“As of today, you are relieved of your post as Vice General Commander of the City Defense Force.”
“Return to the Inner City and face a military tribunal.”
“Pay for your own mistakes.”
Yan Pengcheng’s breathing almost stopped at that moment.
Relieved of duty.
Military tribunal.
Either of these terms alone was enough to doom a City Defense Force officer to eternal ruin.
But when they came from Zhuang Heng’s mouth, a wave of unspeakable relief surged in Yan Pengcheng’s heart.
Compared to the punishments he might have suffered—punishments worse than death, such as being secretly executed, thrown into a lab as live experimental material, or sent to a Non-Safe Zone on a suicide mission...
Dismissal and a military tribunal seemed like nothing.
At least he was still alive.
At least he still had a chance to defend himself.
At least there was still room to maneuver.
Yan Pengcheng took a deep breath, his voice low and respectful.
“Yes, Commander Zhuang.”
“This subordinate... accepts the order.”
The communication cut off.
Zhuang Heng’s voice vanished, leaving only the steady dial tone in the communicator.
The hand Yan Pengcheng used to hold the communicator slowly dropped as he replayed the conversation in his mind.
From start to finish, Zhuang Heng had been terrifyingly calm.
But it was precisely this calmness that made Yan Pengcheng feel an unprecedented sense of pressure.
It was a majesty carved into the very bones of a superior.
Yan Pengcheng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the Sky Eye device on his desk that he had already destroyed.
The pitch-black screen reflected his pale face.
...
Terminal Station, Room 102.
Su Wan leaned back in her chair, contemplating something.
She currently had four absolutely loyal subordinates—Zhou Hu, Shadow Blade, Iron Bone, and Cold Wind—but the issue of communication remained unresolved.
Previously, contacting them required her to actively use the contract link, but that link became ineffective once the distance grew too great.
She needed a way to stay in contact with the four of them anytime, anywhere.
Su Wan pulled up the System Mall and began browsing the 【Special Items】 category.
Her gaze landed on an inconspicuous option.
【Xenogeneic Communication Device (Miniature Version)】
Description: A small communication device developed based on the principle of Death Tide energy fluctuations.
Can be embedded into a Slavery Collar to establish a mental link with the host’s system.
The wearer can perform long-distance consciousness communication with the host through the collar, ignoring distance and most shielding methods.
Communication Method: Consciousness transmission (the wearer only needs to concentrate to transmit information to the host; the host can also actively send information to the wearer).
Communication Range: Unlimited (based on system rules, non-physical signal transmission).
Energy Source: Built-in power supply within the Slavery Collar; no additional charging required.
Price: 5,000 Points each.
Stock: Ample.
Su Wan’s eyes brightened slightly.
“System, exchange for four Xenogeneic Communication Devices.”
【Exchange successful: Xenogeneic Communication Device ×4. Points consumed: 20,000.】
【Current Points balance: 181,800.】
【Prompt: Xenogeneic Communication Devices must be embedded in Slavery Collars to be used. Install immediately?】
“Install them. Put them on the collars of Zhou Hu, Shadow Blade, Iron Bone, and Cold Wind!”
【Installing...】
【Installation complete. Links established with target collars. The host can communicate with wearers via consciousness at any time.】
Four faint points of light immediately appeared in Su Wan’s consciousness.
Each point of light corresponded to a wearer’s consciousness, clear and stable.
She tried contacting Cold Wind.
“Cold Wind.”
A moment later, Cold Wind’s consciousness responded through the contract, tinged with slight surprise: “Master? This voice...”
“A newly installed communication device. You can contact me anytime from now on,” Su Wan explained briefly. “Don’t be surprised.”
“Understood,” Cold Wind’s voice returned to its usual calm.
“How is the situation on your end?”
Cold Wind fell silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his words. “Not good.”
Su Wan’s brow twitched slightly.
Cold Wind continued, “Ever since the 3rd Mobile Brigade returned, Iron Bone and I have been under house arrest.”
“House arrest?”
“Yes. We cannot leave our rooms, our communication devices have been confiscated, and our meals are delivered. However, the delivery people never speak to us.”
“On the surface, it’s for ‘recuperation,’ but everyone knows it’s a disguised screening.”
Su Wan frowned slightly. “What about Yan Pengcheng?”
“Colonel Yan has been relieved of his post and sent back to the Inner City to await a military tribunal.”
“Zhuang Heng didn’t come after you?”
Cold Wind’s voice held a trace of coldness. “Not for now. But the suspicion toward us within the City Defense Force is very obvious.”
“The others who went on the mission with us, like Zhao Long and the other three Level 2s, are also being held separately now.”
“The commander... was taken away directly. We don’t know where he’s being held.”
Su Wan listened quietly without speaking.
“Master, there is something I must report to you,” Cold Wind’s voice suddenly dropped, carrying a hint of tension he couldn't hide.
“Speak.”
“The City Defense Force seems to have secretly dispatched a Level 4 Ability User to investigate the Terminal Station.”
Su Wan’s pupils constricted slightly.
As expected, they were coming.
“Where did this news come from?” she asked.
Cold Wind said, “It’s my own deduction...”
“The strongest person on the surface in the Panshi City Defense Force is Commander Pei Su, who is at the Level 4 Early Stage.”
“But if he were to move personally, the commotion would be too great to hide from the eyes and ears of various factions.”
“Therefore, sending a hidden operative is the most logical course of action.”
Su Wan’s brow furrowed slightly. “A hidden operative within the City Defense Force?”
Cold Wind’s consciousness responded through the contract, his voice even lower.
“Yes, a hidden operative.”
“Master might not be aware, but the City Defense Force is not unique to Panshi City.”
“In this wasteland, every survivor city has a City Defense Force.”
“The City Defense Force as a whole is governed by the federal government, which nominally oversees all human settlements.”
Su Wan’s frown deepened. “The federal government?”
“Yes.” Cold Wind’s voice carried a complex tone. “As far as I know, there are two opposing federal governments on this wasteland: one called Dawn and the other called Nightmare.”
“Under the federations, there are seven major provinces. Each province governs five major areas, each area governs five sectors, and beneath the sectors are the individual cities.”
“Our Panshi City is under the jurisdiction of Sector C, Yaohui Area, Yongming Province, of the Dawn Federation.”
Su Wan’s pupils constricted slightly.
Rate on N.U.
