Chapter 218: Omen of the Beast Tide

Chapter 218: The Omen of the Beast Tide

Meanwhile, within Base 011.

The small converter steel plant had been fully completed, and the brick‑making works had entered regular operation.

Everything here flourished in an orderly fashion, a stark contrast to the chaotic melee that Chen Jian’s squad had just endured.

Shen Yue stepped out of the shelter and swallowed a steaming bowl of meat porridge.

Then he called Huang Yu, who was leading a training detachment, to bring everyone back to rest, while he connected a video call with He Shuo.

The cellular network relayed the signal layer by layer, and He Shuo’s face appeared on the screen.

Behind him stood a sofa in the manor that hinted at a touch of “luxury,” while the desk before him was strewn with a dense forest of documents and devices.

“.Your work doesn’t look easy at all, does it?”

Shen Yue clicked his tongue and said:

“My eyes are blackened from the endless grind—what’s going on?”

“Didn’t you already tell me? It’s just the grind.”

He Shuo sighed, then continued:

“Do you think that intelligence is that easy to obtain? Jinling City belongs to us, but it isn’t completely transparent to us.”

“Much of the information Fuxi can’t gather at all; we still have to rely on the most traditional methods.”

“Take, for instance, that batch of Huadu women you sent over. The captain originally intended to ship them straight to Jinling City and let them fend for themselves—that would have been wasteful.”

“I now keep them in the manor, intending to first weed out those without addiction, or with only a mild habit, for training.”

“If we can release them, they’ll become a vital source of intelligence for us later.”

“A reliable spy is worth more than ten hummingbird drones; in this regard, the human factor is something machines cannot replace.”

“Concocting conspiracies is still your forte, isn’t it?”

Shen Zou raised his thumb, then said:

“But today I’m not here to discuss that.”

“Did you receive the captain’s report? How have the arrangements progressed?”

“Everything’s been arranged.”

He Shuo leaned back slightly, reclining on the sofa.

Then, rubbing his eyes and yawning, he said:

“Zhang Tao has issued orders, mobilizing two contingents of roughly four hundred men each—eight hundred in total—from the Protectorate Army to reinforce Quancheng.”

“They will assist with equipment reception and civilian resettlement.”

“These troops aren’t exactly trustworthy, but under the current circumstances they’re the most reliable force we can count on.”

“Our manpower is still too thin; we can besiege a city, but we’re wholly insufficient for raiding territory.”

“That problem falls to you to solve—push harder.”

“.I’ve already been trying my best.”

Shen Yue exhaled and said:

“We’ve taken in twenty new refugees here, and all have been settled.”

“But at present they’re not yet at a usable level.”

“Who could have foreseen they would capture Huadu City so swiftly? That was never in the plan.”

“Plans can’t keep up with change; there’s nothing we can do.”

He Shuo waved his hand and sat up straight again.

After a pause, he asked:

“You came to me about this? For idle chatter? That’s not your style.”

“Of course not.”

Shen Yue also sat upright, then turned to He Shuo and asked:

“Did you see the updates I uploaded to the system?”

“I haven’t. What’s the situation?”

“The newly arrived refugees have brought fresh news.”

As Shen Yue spoke, He Shuo opened the intelligence system, stared at it for a few seconds, then frowned and asked:

“The refugees reported monsters appearing on the southern side—two of them?”

“Are those the same beasts we saw near Jurong Town before? Any connection?”

“We can’t confirm yet.”

Shen Yue shook his head and said:

“But this information already says a lot.”

“According to the refugees, both creatures are massive, at least fourth‑level monsters.”

“When the two met, they did not fight, nor did they part ways over territorial disputes.”

“They simply coexisted side by side, and that is the most terrifying thing.”

“Until now we have never observed such a circumstance.”

“Monsters, especially the gigantic ones, normally maintain competitive relations.”

“Only in cases like the Huangzhou Ruins—one underground, one above ground, mutually non‑interfering—can coexistence be possible.”

“These two, however, are clearly not that.”

“I have a suspicion: this is the prelude to a beast tide.”

“Understood.”

He Shuo’s expression grew heavy; he drummed his fingers on the table, pondering the intelligence he had gathered.

After a long while, he spoke:

“I haven’t received any reports of a beast tide here; you’re the first.”

“What about the captain? What does he say?”

“He’s too far away to give a concrete judgment—he asked me to find you, to expand the scope of information gathering as far as our network allows.”

“His intention is to turn the trade routes into a web, using the refugees as a mass.”

“That would maximize the breadth of our intel collection, enabling us to react in time.”

“Understood, I’ll handle it.”

He Shuo let out a long breath and continued:

“How’s the progress on your side—how far have you climbed the tech tree?”

We’re on the brink of the coking stage—yet that is not our present concern.

Shen Yue’s expression was tangled with hesitation; after a moment’s pause, he finally spoke:

“I wish to lead a team to Mount Huang.”

“Do you think it’s feasible?”

“To fetch a nuclear warhead?”

He Shuo asked in astonishment:

“It wouldn’t be impossible to secure the warhead in Huangshan ahead of time.”

“But the question is, why not go to Anqing?”

“Isn’t there a warhead at the Air‑Ten Division base?”

“It’s not merely for the warhead.”

Shen Yue furrowed his brow slightly and replied:

“We must eliminate those two monsters, and on the way retrieve the warhead.”

“If we can achieve both objectives, the mission will be deemed a success.”

“Taking out the two beasts in advance would greatly diminish the threat of the beast tide.”

“Reasonable, yet the problem remains—if you lead the team out, what becomes of Base 011?”

“That is precisely why I have come to you.”

Shen Yue exhaled a long breath, then asked:

“Can you set aside the matter of Jinling City?”

“I need only three days; within those three days I can return.”

“Don’t ask me any more.”

He Shuo sighed likewise and retorted:

“What does ‘captain’ mean?”

“He obviously wants me to ask you. The value of the intelligence work in Jinling is hard to quantify; only you can judge it.”

“If you agree, I will set out with the team.”

“If you refuse, I will wait—wait until the captain returns.”

As the words fell, He Shuo could not help but press his hand to his forehead.

We are still woefully short of manpower.

It has dwindled to the point of being cramped.

The construction of the intelligence network now stands at its most critical juncture, and Zhang Tao’s movements must be monitored constantly.

Not even three days—perhaps merely three hours—could allow a flood of crucial information to slip through.

Letting him go, even temporarily, is a decision that weighs heavily.

Yet if he stays…

Shen Yue’s affairs are equally urgent. He must venture south to ascertain the beast tide’s course, retrieve weapons, and coordinate with the captain’s actions.

After a long silence, He Shuo lifted his head.

He did not look at Shen Yue, but turned toward Zeng Yi standing nearby.

He asked:

“Zeng Yi, can you hold this post for a few days?”

Zeng Yi was taken aback at first.

Then he answered with resolve:

“I can!”

“Keep in touch—I can endure this!”

Elsewhere, in the town of Pingyuan.

Chen Jian sat behind the long table in the inn’s room, having finished reading the report sent by Shen Yue.

Most of its contents were encouraging, granting him a sense of reassurance from the rear.

Yet upon seeing the plan drafted by Shen Yue and He Shuo, he could not help but sigh.

Damn, we are still too short‑handed, and in these conditions there are far too many tasks that demand our own hands.

Even with Fuxi present, they cannot be fully liberated.

It is unimaginable how arduous rebuilding an industrial civilization would be without Fuxi.

He closed the PDA screen and rubbed his bridge of the nose with force.

Then he turned to Lei Jie beside him and asked:

“How is the Mechanical Cult’s progress? How long until they reach Huadu?”

“According to Zhang Tao, they can arrive in at most four hours.”

“But after arrival they’ll need time to clear the armed civilians and resistance cells within the city—likely at least twelve hours before that’s done.”

“Twelve hours—roughly around six o’clock tomorrow.”

“That’s perfect; by then the maintenance should be finished, and we can head over immediately.”

“That works well; the timing is just right.”

Chen Jian relaxed a little, while Lei Jie wiped the oil‑stained hands on the tablecloth and replied:

“Indeed, the timing is just right, though the plan is exceedingly tight.”

“Whether it’s our squad or Shen Yue and He Shuo, the pressure is immense.”

“Moreover, it is foreseeable that if we manage to enter the Imperial Capital, to reach 001, the problems we face will not be swiftly resolved but may become even more tangled.”

“Frankly, we must find a way to tackle this.”

“If there truly were a method to brain‑wash via neural‑machine, I’d be eager to employ it.”

“After all, the limitations of the ant‑colony robots are still vast; they can do many things, yet they can never replace a human.”

“You’d do well to keep such thoughts to yourself.”

Chen Jian knew Lei Jie was merely venting, yet felt compelled to issue a warning.

The latter paid it no mind, gave a muted “hm,” then continued:

“According to Shen Yue’s intel, the beast tide has already shown preliminary signs.”

“I believe the window we have left will not be long.”

“We must prepare without delay—now is the time to harness the power of the Holy Blood Hall.”

“I think the same.”

As Chen Jian’s words barely hung in the air, a sudden rap echoed from beyond the door.

He glanced at his smart visor, confirmed there was no threat, and said, “Come in,” after which Ji Xing pushed the door open, ushering in a stranger.

“Captain, a delegate from the Holy Blood Hall has arrived.”

Having said that, Ji Xing stepped aside, while the man advanced a step and bowed slightly, saying:

“Captain, greetings.”

“I am Lin Yu, a monitor of the Holy Blood Hall, hailing from the Imperial Capital.”

“I am currently leading a squad in the Wu Yang region, tracking a third‑grade monster. Having received the Saint Father’s orders, I have come here to offer our assistance.”

“—perhaps ‘assistance’ is too grand a word; we merely wish to lend a modest hand.”

The man named Lin Yu spoke with a courtesy that set him apart from other Holy Blood practitioners, his bearing neither servile nor arrogant.

Chen Jian surveyed him from head to toe, nodded lightly, and said:

“Thank you for your help.”

“What orders have you received? To aid us in entering Huadu City for the reception?”

“It is more than that. The Saint Father’s command is that I obey your directives and spare no effort in supporting you.”

“So I think, whatever you require, we can do for you.”

It was clear this was a remarkably “high‑level” directive.

To follow my commands without question?

If I were to ask you to breach the Holy Blood Hall, would you comply?

Chen Jian couldn’t help but smile.

The management of the Holy Blood Hall had indeed become so lax that even command could be handed over at will; no wonder it had become a loose collection of scattered forces.

——

So perhaps the discord in Lin Jing’s philosophy stems from this very reason?

Chen Jian turned his gaze back to Lin Yu, gathering his scattered thoughts.

Then he asked:

“Do you know Lin Jing? You both share the surname Lin—what is the relation?”

“There is none; it’s merely a coincidence that we share the name.”

Lin Yu replied calmly:

“We are already aware of what transpired in Huadu, or rather, we have long known that Lin Jing is in Huadu.”

“However, we have never possessed enough strength to deal with her—she is always one step ahead of us.”

“Thus, you have removed a hidden threat for us; in return, we ought to serve you.”

“If there is anything you need us to do, you may speak at once.”

“There is.”

Chen Jian finally sat upright and continued:

“I want you to lead your squad out of Quancheng and head southward.”

“You must broaden your operational reach as far as possible, venturing to various human settlements.”

“You are to gather intelligence on monster activity for us, and also persuade those scattered settlements to relocate swiftly, consolidating them into the great city.”

“The beast tide is imminent; all must unite.”

“This is a long‑term mission and may cost you considerable time.”

“How does that sound? Can you manage it?”

“No problem.”

Lin Yu bowed again and said:

“We will execute immediately and keep in touch with you.”

“Then go.”

Chen Jian waved his hand, and Lin Yu respectfully withdrew from the room.

After he left, Lei Jie could not help but remark:

“That kid is surprisingly courteous.”

Chen Jian gave a slight nod and whispered:

“Yes, he’s courteous, but it’s not that simple.”

“He just slipped up—perhaps not a slip at all, but the Holy Blood Hall deliberately feeding us information.”

“What information?”

Lei Jie asked, puzzled, but before Chen Jian could answer, Ji Xing interjected:

“Lin Jing.”

“The Lin Yu you mentioned, Lin Jing is a hidden danger within the Holy Blood Hall.”

“If it’s a danger, it must be a threat.”

“Yet on the surface, Huadu and the Holy Blood Hall seem to keep well within their own waters.”

“That proves the conflict between these two forces is far from simple.”

“Exactly.”

Chen Jian looked at Ji Xing with satisfaction and, following her thread, added:

“The Holy Blood Hall must possess something that Lin Jing desires.”

“The value of that item could even surpass what lies in the 001 Ruins.”

“The Hall’s intentional exposure of this flaw may be a bid for cooperation with us.”

“In that case,”

“When we go to the Imperial Capital, we’ll likely have to meet that so‑called Saint Father.”

“Understood.”

Lei Jie’s eyes brightened with comprehension.

Chen Jian rose, stretched lazily, and said:

“Alright, that will be all.”

“Everyone, use the time to rest.”

“At six tomorrow morning we will enter Huadu on schedule and secure Project 008!”

(End of Chapter)