Chapter 102: A New Alias to Get Close to Her
In a secret departure preparation room somewhere in the Tower.
Bai Ye sat at a simple metal desk. In front of him was a portable terminal of a remarkably plain, even dated, military-grade model.
The screen was on, showing that the message he had just sent was marked as read. But the dialogue box remained quiet, with no reply yet received.
He was dressed in a dark combat uniform suited for action, his epaulets removed. Compared to his usual days in the command center or in a crisp general’s uniform, he appeared less imposing and exuded more of the dangerous aura befitting a High-level Sentinel.
"General," Luo Cheng said as he entered, similarly dressed in gear suited for field operations. "The convoys for the training group and the live-fire drill team have already departed for Buffer Zone 10 as scheduled. We’re ready on our end, but..."
He hesitated before he couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure you don’t want to inform Chief Guide and Junior General Qi Yao? He’s nominally in charge of this field exercise, after all. We’re heading to the same area in secret. If we were to run into them..."
This field exercise had been suddenly moved up, and the one ostensibly pushing for it was Junior General Qi Yao, who had just returned from a highly successful mission.
He had brought back intelligence reporting a contaminant leak of unknown origin on the edge of Polluted Zone 13, as well as a large-scale, abnormal collapse in the abandoned mining pit area bordering the no-man’s-land, where unknown energy activity was suspected.
He persuaded some of the Tower’s senior leadership by arguing that they could use the Preparatory Guides’ field training as an opportunity to set up camp in the nearby Buffer Zone 10, which would also allow them to dispatch an elite squad for a preliminary investigation of the anomaly in Zone 13.
There had been considerable opposition at first; after all, the risk of letting preparatory trainees get close to a potentially unstable region was far too great.
But Qi Yao was riding a wave of success from his recent major achievement, and, most critically, Bai Ye had remained silent on the matter, offering no objection.
That was what allowed Qi Yao’s plan to be approved.
What Luo Cheng hadn’t expected was that his general had not only failed to object, but was now planning to go himself—and to do so apart from the main force, in this completely clandestine manner.
"That won’t be necessary."
Bai Ye’s gaze remained fixed on the terminal screen, his voice calm and flat.
"Their primary area of operations is along the preset safe routes on the periphery of Buffer Zone 10. Even if Qi Yao decides to send an elite squad to investigate the anomaly in Zone 13, he won’t go himself. Our operational routes and objectives do not directly conflict. The probability of an encounter is low. And even if we do run into them, I have a story prepared."
A flicker of understanding crossed Luo Cheng’s face, but his worry didn’t entirely vanish.
He knew his general’s true destination on this trip: the core area of the abandoned mining pit marked in the report, the very place where the abnormal collapse had happened.
With the general’s SSS-level abilities, traveling between Buffer Zone 10 and the edge of Zone 13 certainly wasn’t difficult. He could even do it without anyone being the wiser.
’But why is the general going to all this trouble? Unless... there’s another reason?’
Just then, the terminal screen in front of Bai Ye suddenly flashed, and a system notification popped up.
[User F-3 has requested to add you as a friend.]
Luo Cheng’s sharp peripheral vision caught the notification, and he was inwardly stunned!
Only then did he notice that the terminal his general was using was an extremely low-end model, and clearly an unregistered, anonymous device.
What surprised him even more was the friend request. ’Someone is adding the general as a friend?’
However, Bai Ye showed no intention of explaining.
With a calm expression, he picked up the terminal. His fingertips made a few quick motions on the screen, and he accepted the friend request.
He didn’t stop there.
His fingers continued to tap on the virtual keyboard as he sent over several encrypted files and data packets he had already prepared, one after another.
Once the transfer was complete, he turned off the terminal’s screen and put it away.
Luo Cheng, standing to the side, took in the entire scene, growing ever more astonished.
He had already found it incredible to see someone add his general as a friend. Now, seeing him not only accept but also proactively send over a large number of files... this was simply beyond his understanding of the general’s way of doing things!
’Who on earth is this person? To be valued so highly by the general!’
Luo Cheng was filled with suspicion, but he forcefully suppressed his questions.
He snapped to attention, his expression serious. "General, all preparations are complete. We can depart now."
Bai Ye grunted in acknowledgment and stood up.
"Move out."
He commanded in a low voice, taking the lead and walking into a corridor behind the preparation room, one specially designed for clandestine operations.
...
Yun Sheng stared at the message on her terminal screen, her thoughts racing.
’In the perilous wilderness, maintaining clear communication with the combat Sentinel responsible for her group’s safety is, from any angle, both necessary and wise.’
’Refusing would be foolish!’
’As for their other possible intentions... I can only find out by accepting.’
Yun Sheng tapped her fingertip, replied with [Received], and then added the contact ID.
Almost instantly, the other party approved her request.
Then, with no pleasantries or self-introduction, a series of encrypted files were sent over decisively, as if they had been waiting for her all along.
Yun Sheng opened the receiving list, and the titles came into clear view.
Detailed Analysis of Terrain and Potential Risk Points in the Southeast Sector of Buffer Zone 10 (Team Three’s Operational Area)
Behavioral Patterns of Common Low-Level Pollutants and Recommended Countermeasures
Basic Techniques for Protecting and Conserving Spiritual Power in Contaminated Environments
She opened them one by one, quickly scanning their contents, and couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise.
These were nothing like the vague, conservative, generic guides issued by the Tower’s training department.
The terrain map was incredibly detailed. It didn’t just mark the standard safe routes and resource points; it also used special symbols to denote several "potential high-risk areas" and "optimal concealed positions" that weren’t on any official map, inferred from energy residue or geological structures. It even included notes on potential microclimate changes in certain areas at different times of day.
The analysis of the pollutants’ behavioral patterns was even more on point. It dispensed with lengthy theory, directly outlining the attack patterns, weaknesses, and most effective methods of interference or evasion for several of the most common low-level pollutants.
As for the techniques for protecting and conserving spiritual power, every word was gold. Many of the methods were things she had never even heard of, clearly invaluable experience gleaned from extensive, real-world combat.
This was all hardcore, practical information of the highest caliber!
Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a few beats, but that was quickly replaced by a deeper sense of caution.
’This is too thorough.’
’Abnormally so.’
’Why would an accompanying combat Sentinel I’ve never even met send such detailed, professional information specifically to me?’
’This goes far beyond simply ’facilitating communication.’ It’s more like... a custom-tailored survival guide.’
’Who is this person? What’s their objective?’
’Is this a gesture of goodwill, or is it bait intended to make me lower my guard?’
Countless questions swirled in her mind.
Yun Sheng silently downloaded all the files. Regardless of who the sender was, the value of the information itself was undeniable. At a critical moment, it could save her life.
After the download was complete, she opened the dialogue box again, thought for a moment, and typed out a message.
F-3: Files received. Thank you very much. How should I address you? And how will I recognize you in the field?
The message went out, but it was like a stone dropped into the ocean. No reply came.
Yun Sheng waited for several minutes, the sliver of doubt in her heart growing stronger.
The sender seemed to be interested only in one-way communication, with no intention of interacting with her at all.
She gave up waiting and was about to turn off her terminal screen.
"SCREEE... EEECH!"
A sharp, ear-splitting screech, accompanied by a violent lurch and a sense of weightlessness, suddenly erupted from beneath the transport vehicle.
"Ah—"
"What’s happening?"
"The truck! What’s wrong with the truck?!"