Chapter 968: Uninvited Guest

Chapter 968 Uninvited Guest

On the outskirts of Avant City, a streamlined research vessel was parked atop a logistics building.

The terrain here was elevated, offering a broad view that stretched all the way to the "World Tower" several kilometers away—an ideal spot for watching the spectacle unfold.

As connoisseurs of such spectacles, the Academy's surveyors had instantly recognized this prime location and seized it as soon as the battlefront pushed into the core urban area.

At this moment, beside the research vessel, a surveyor in an exoskeleton stood behind a tripod-mounted sampler.

The multifunctional camera on the sampler was aimed squarely at the "World Tower," connected to the nearby research vessel by a data cable as thick as a python.

Around the busy surveyor, five other exoskeleton-clad surveyors stood guard with weapons at the ready.

After all, this was a war zone.

Even though the conflict was nearing its end, there was no guarantee that something unexpected might not leap out.

They had to be wary of all potential threats.

Fortunately, no complications arose during their data collection.

After Tyre of the Southern Legion played his final card, both he and the "anomalous lifeform" that had suddenly appeared atop the "World Tower" were dealt with by the Alliance.

As the broadcast announcing victory rang out, their data sampling entered its final stage.

Just as the work was about to conclude, one surveyor released his grip on the assault rifle, pulled out binoculars, and peered toward the "World Tower."

Gazing at the lifeless, dark-red wreckage, he clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath.

"Truly twisted..."

He was not alone in this thought.

The other surveyors nearby wore similarly inscrutable expressions, whispering among themselves over the comm channel.

"Is that 'Gaia'?"

"Yeah... probably."

"Tsk tsk..."

"How did the Southern Legion come up with that? When did they get their hands on such astonishing technology?"

"Who knows... But I'm leaning toward the idea that they had no clue what they were actually holding."

"Like the Death Agent?"

"You mean that virus? Hah, relying on something so childish... they'd be better off widening their artillery caliber to a thousand millimeters."

"It's not exactly childish; that thing had some merit, including this 'Gaia'... We might have underestimated those madmen."

Most organisms in nature operate as atoms within the laws of nature, but "Gaia" is different—its very existence is the law of nature itself.

Unlike the "Gestalt Lifeform" theorized by academia during the Prosperity Era, "Gaia" is considered by scholars to be an "Amorphous Lifeform."

Or, more precisely, a "life form entirely determined by consciousness."

For instance, that indescribable, highly aggressive tentacle monster was based on a similar technical principle, materializing Tyre's mental world in carbon-based form.

This might sound incredible, but it happened on the planet Gaia.

That planet was the materialization of "Its" mental world.

The Alliance's research institute had made a series of conjectures about the origin of Gaia's civilization from a social science perspective, but these remained largely speculative.

The Academy's research, however, focused more on the technical side, categorizing similar phenomena as "Gaia-like Lifeforms."

The hive-like entity that appeared atop the "World Tower" was actually a type of "Gaia-like Lifeform"... though its power was so insignificant that it was crushed by the Alliance before it could even devour a single settlement.

Still, despite being eliminated, it caught the attention of the Academy's higher-ups.

After all, even within the Academy, this was considered a cutting-edge research field—it shouldn't have appeared on the wasteland...

Listening to his teammates' chatter, Song Changfeng, standing behind the tripod, said nothing. He focused meticulously on the tablet, reporting the frontline situation to the superiors waiting in the rear.

The team operating here was the Academy's "Beacon" squad, and he was its captain.

Unlike the "Alpha" special task force, the "Beacon" squad consisted entirely of Academy-affiliated surveyors or androids, primarily engaged in investigation rather than offensive or defensive operations.

Incidentally, their previous captain was Zheng Hao, and he had been the deputy.

But that guy had been promoted and transferred to the Survey Department's Containment Planning Unit as an aide.

In the surveyors' parlance, he had "made it ashore."

Overall, compared to other life-risking jobs, the "Beacon" squad was considered a promising career.

They not only had the chance to shine before senior researchers but also accumulated scientific credentials during missions, gaining access to high-level intelligence they would never otherwise encounter.

Unlike elsewhere, in the Academy, the more you knew, the safer you were.

Of course, provided that knowledge was obtained through permissible channels.

Every time he thought about turning thirty soon, Song Changfeng couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.

He had no interest in Gaia or whatever; he only knew he had to transition from surveyor to researcher before turning thirty.

There was an unwritten rule—or rather, a pattern—in the Academy.

If a person was still a surveyor past thirty, their career was essentially over.

This had held true for the past century and a half; most researchers had shown extraordinary talent at a very young age.

For instance, Jiang Xuezhou, who had once been on his team, was already an E-level researcher in her teens.

He wasn't jealous of those prodigies, nor did he aspire to climb too high; he just wanted to "make it ashore" like his former captain, Zheng Hao.

If he could become a researcher before thirty, he might still have a chance to push forward.

Even an E-level researcher held a far higher status than a surveyor...

"The suspected Gaia lifeform has been neutralized by Alliance forces..."

"Yes, most life activity outside the tower has essentially ceased... We can't yet determine what method they used, but the subject's vital signs and multiple readings have been overwritten by new parameters..."

"Alright... We'll pack up and return immediately."

Ending the call, Song Changfeng took a deep breath and waved to his teammates.

"Data collection complete. Wrap it up."

Though he couldn't guess his superiors' thoughts, the tone on the other end of the comm suggested they were fairly satisfied with the work.

Perhaps...

There was hope for promotion?

"Roger!"

Hearing the captain call it a day, the young men finally relaxed, acknowledging with a shout and heading toward the open hatch of the research vessel.

Compared to previous missions, this one was as easy as a perk.

Riding the boss's research vessel to watch a war epic, snapping a few photos and charts, then heading home—such a stroke of luck probably wouldn't come more than once a year.

Yet just as everyone was thinking this, the still, silent air suddenly rippled.

"Hum—"

The speed was so fast that no one could react in time; a surveyor in an exoskeleton was sent flying as if hit by a train.

Bulletproof lining shattered into countless fragments, tumbling down to the floor along with the rag-like body.

Seeing the electromagnetic signal ripples suddenly jumping on the radar, Song Changfeng, standing at the hatch, felt a surge of alarm and roared.

"Sniper! It's an electromagnetic rifle! Three o'clock!"

No need for his warning; everyone had already reacted instinctively, taking cover on the other side of the research vessel before the second mass round struck.

Without a moment's pause, Song Changfeng remotely activated the research vessel's deflector shield.

Almost at the same instant, the second mass round slammed into the spot ten meters away from them, blasting the concrete rooftop so hard that even the steel bars were exposed!

Fortunately, the bullet was deflected off course by the deflector shield.

If it had hit a person, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Staring at the shocking breach, Song Changfeng, hiding by the hatch, felt his heart pounding violently.

Who the hell is it?!

No—

Now is not the time to think about that.

Looking at the people pinned down outside the research vessel, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Get on board quickly!"

As the deflector shield opened, the four surveyors outside immediately rushed through the door.

In the distance, three more bangs rang out, but aside from kicking up some concrete debris, they had no effect on the group.

Seeing all his team members back on the ship, Song Changfeng immediately closed the hatch.

The hatch slammed shut with a heavy thud!

Staring at the sealed door and the shield energy bar showing good operation, his racing heart finally began to calm down.

Safe...

As the anti-gravity device activated, the plasma engine spewed a plume, and the research vessel, shielded by the deflector, rose into the sky.

The team collapsed onto the floor, lifting their helmet visors, all wearing expressions of lingering terror.

"Damn it..."

"What the hell just happened?!"

"Xiao Wang, he..."

"Shit!"

Thinking of the unfortunate young man who had died, Song Changfeng's heart ached with pain.

Though they hadn't spent much time together, the young man surnamed Wang had left a good impression on him. He never expected such a hasty end...

But now was not the time for grief. As the team leader, he had more important things to do...

Tapping his neck with his index finger, Song Changfeng connected to the research vessel's communication module and reported in a grave tone.

"...This is Beacon Team... We've been ambushed."

"We can't figure out how those bastards found us. But they seem... like they knew exactly where we were."

On the other end of the communication channel, there was only the static of electric currents, as silent as if broken.

Song Changfeng hesitated slightly, double-checking the icon indicating a stable connection—no anomalies.

What's going on?

Just as he was stunned, a chilling sensation suddenly pierced through his back and burst out of his chest.

He watched helplessly as a dagger emerged from his own chest, and the four familiar faces shifted from shock to panic.

"Cough—"

Song Changfeng tried to say something, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood. Then his vision went black like a cut scene, and when he came to, he was lying on the bloodstained alloy floor.

A stranger in an exoskeleton stood in the center of the buffer chamber, his dark silver helmet and pitch-black visor hiding his face, blood dripping from the dagger onto the floor drop by drop.

As for his four teammates, they lay on the bloodstained floor just like him.

Song Changfeng didn't know what method the guy had used; he only knew that in an instant, the man had wiped out all five of them.

Optical camouflage...

No, not just optical camouflage!

He suddenly realized what the electromagnetic signal ripples on the radar earlier had been.

The sniper firing at them wasn't aiming to kill them—it was to cover the teammate boarding the ship...

"You... what the hell are you?"

Song Changfeng struggled to reach out, trying to grab the man's leg.

As if hearing his voice, the man turned to face him.

Without any warning, the blood-dripping blade and the toes pointing toward him seemed to vanish from his sight in an instant.

When Song Changfeng vaguely sensed it, a faint sound had already swept past the back of his head.

"Thud—"

No pain.

Song Changfeng only felt his vision roll forward, and then his consciousness plunged into an abyss...

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of kilometers away, somewhere in the Wandering Swamp, the Containment Planning Group of the Investigation Department.

In a combat command room covering two hundred square meters, dozens of eyes stared fixedly at the six lost signals on the holographic screen, dead silence reigning.

The man standing beneath the holographic screen had a face as dark as water, his shifting expression making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

At that moment, a B-level researcher timidly approached him and whispered a report.

"No signal..."

The man's face grew even darker.

Regardless, losing a research vessel was a major incident, especially since it had vanished so mysteriously.

The Chief Technology Officer would certainly inquire about this.

Even if he was the Director of the Investigation Department, it wouldn't be easy to brush off.

After a long silence, the man finally sighed in resignation and closed his eyes.

"...Looks like we have no choice but to rely on our allies."

The Alliance loved to dismantle things.

A research vessel wasn't an all-terrain survey vehicle—it was a mode of transport that could fly to the moon with a single press of the accelerator.

If it weren't absolutely necessary, he really didn't want to ask those blue groundhogs for help...

People’s joys and sorrows are never truly shared.

At this moment, the entire alliance, from top to bottom, is still immersed in the joy of victory, unaware of the wretched trouble their allies have run into.

At the entrance of the refugee shelter.

Smiling, Debt-Laden Big Eyes carries a sack on his back, handing out candy to any cute little girl he catches.

Actually, he originally had two sacks.

But on the way here, a pack of bastards robbed him, and now he’s left with only one.

Watching those little Kelis gnawing on chocolate with blissful faces, he feels an indescribable satisfaction, as if he himself were the melted chocolate.

Isn’t this a hell of a lot more fun than feeding pigeons at Fries Port?!

“Eww—this guy’s gotta be a pervert, right?” Hunger Faction’s face twists into an expression beyond words.

Standing beside her, Bow to Hunger Faction tugs at her hand.

“Leave him be, that’s Big Eyes.”

“Oh, oh, it’s Big Eyes…” Hunger Faction nods in sudden understanding, with a look of “Well, that explains it,” but soon turns to her partner with suspicion, “Wait, how come you sound so familiar with him? You two hang out a lot?”

Bow to Hunger Faction breaks out in a cold sweat, frantically waving his hands to clarify.

“Me, me… I don’t need to be familiar with him—who on the forum with an account doesn’t know him?”

Seeing his partner still skeptical, he puts his hands on her shoulders and pushes her aside.

“Let’s go, let’s go, we’ve got to turn in the quest. Forget about this guy. He may have no scruples, but he’s got some bottom line.”

And that’s the truth.

Though suspicious eyes are fixed on him, since he makes no further moves or draws attention, no one says anything.

As for what others think, Big Eyes stopped caring long ago.

Let those bastards talk all they want—his reputation is already like fleas too many to itch, debts too many to worry about.

Compared to players with a thousand schemes in their heads, he really prefers hanging out with NPCs.

“…Eat up, don’t be shy. Uncle Big Eyes still has plenty more.”

Watching those faces shimmering with hope, Big Eyes almost wishes he could turn every silver coin in his pocket into chocolate and shower them with it.

A tiny girl looks up at him, her sparkling eyes like little stars twinkling.

“Uncle Big Eyes… are… are you Santa Claus?”

She doesn’t even know what the word means, just happened to hear other shelter residents describe him that way.

Debt-Laden Big Eyes is about to smile and tell her not to listen to those Blue Rats’ nonsense—he always comes in through the front door, never climbed a chimney.

But just then, a mocking voice comes from behind him.

“Santa Claus? No, no, no—where I come from, we call that a simp.”

The little girl blinks, tilts her head, and repeats softly.

“Tian gou?”

Seeing how well she mimics it, Construction Boy and Brick’s eyes light up, and he grins as he rewards her with a lollipop.

“That’s right! That’s how you say it!”

Before Big Eyes can react, the little girl beams at him, imitating the “shelter slang” she just learned.

“Uncle Big Eyes is a tian gou!”

That dazzling expression, paired with the grating voice, seems to land a critical hit, stabbing into Big Eyes’ unspeakable pain.

Pain!

Too much pain!

“Hahahaha fuck!”

Construction Boy and Brick squeals like a pig, while Big Eyes, furious and embarrassed, kicks him square in the ass.

“Get the hell out of here!”

Seeing the murderous intent, the construction guy dodges nimbly and scrambles away.

“Holy shit! Eye Bro, I’m sorry! I apologize! I—I—I’ll kowtow to you!”

“Die already!!!”

Dropping the chocolate, Big Eyes chases after the construction guy, itching to send that bastard back to the fountain.

They circle the camp twice without stopping—an intelligence-based class just doesn’t have the stamina.

Watching the two never quit, Roller Washing Machine, laughing so hard he’s choking, yells out.

“Stop fighting already!”

Watching the commotion at the camp entrance, Laplace can’t help but curl his lips into a smile.

Come to think of it, it’s been ages since they’ve had such a carefree day.

For a moment, he feels like he’s back in Dawn City, a long, long time ago.

Just then, Edge Slacking, the Legion Commander of the Death Corps, walks in from outside the camp and finally manages to restrain those two “attention seekers.”

“Got a mission. Command says a researcher died up north—uh, a prospector, I think? Anyway, someone from the Academy, more or less.”

Construction Boy and Brick looks up, bewildered.

“Someone from the Academy? Are any of them even here?”

Roller Washing Machine scratches his head, equally confused.

“Didn’t see them during the fight. Why do they pop up after it’s over?”

Edge Slacking chuckles.

“When have those guys ever been idle? Anyway, someone pulling tricks on our turf is a risk. Who’s coming with me to check it out?”

Construction Guy and Big Eyes raise their hands in unison.

Edge Slacking snaps his fingers.

“Alright, grab your gear and follow me.”