Chapter 204: Lone Goose
Chapter 204: Lone Goose
In a mountain pass within Zangshan, a defensive position once fortified by the Iron Chain Gang lay in ruins. The ground was littered with the remains of the gang members, most of them dismembered.
The fortress-like structures remained largely intact, as Mo Lan Corporation had no intention of launching a full-scale assault.
These fortifications were only designed to counter enemies approaching from the ground and the mountainside, offering no resistance to the Combat Mantises—highly adaptable creatures capable of flying and maneuvering through mountainous terrain and forests.
The Combat Mantises employed tactical maneuvers, with one group drawing attention at the front while another flanked from the rear and sides, launching a surprise attack.
The fortifications were primarily oriented towards the front, and the gang members' combat skills were far from impressive, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from other directions.
The Blood Ink Guard, with their exceptional speed and agility, swiftly breached the defensive lines within a few breaths, showing little fear of conventional firearms.
As for the gang members within the fortress, a simple toss of a neurotoxin canister into the fortress openings was enough to incapacitate them instantly.
The once formidable fortress complex, capable of withstanding thousands of troops, had fallen within a mere fifteen minutes, partly due to the Iron Chain Gang's lack of artillery and subpar combat skills.
Even if they had possessed these resources, the versatile Combat Mantises and the Blood Ink Guard, with their superhuman reflexes, would have proven a formidable challenge.
In essence, these weapons and fortifications were designed to counter conventional armies, offering no resistance to the modern, well-equipped elite squads and bio-weapons.
Interestingly, the number of Iron Chain Gang members at this location was lower than expected, not even reaching two hundred. It was well-known that the gang boasted tens of thousands of members, and their elite forces numbered in the thousands.
Mo Lan Corporation's analysts believed that the Iron Chain Gang might have been reluctant to commit fully, only deploying a small force to fulfill their obligations.
Regardless, the plan had succeeded, and they had reached their destination.
This particular area was the narrowest and most accessible passage through the mountains, and once secured, it allowed for a swift transit. Within less than an hour, the entire group had traversed the mountain range.
As they emerged from the valley, a gentle slope of approximately sixty meters in height came into view. Five directors ascended the slope, gazing upon the vast expanse of wilderness stretching as far as the eye could see. Standing there, they felt as if they had conquered an entire world.
Their destination lay two thousand kilometers away in the Chaos Land, and with the power they wielded, they were confident in establishing a new Mo Lan Kingdom upon arrival.
However, they had no intention of making the journey on foot.
"They're here," one of the directors announced.
After a brief wait, two large silver airships approached from the distance, catching the attention of those with keen eyesight.
These airships, secretly constructed by Mo Lan Corporation in the northwestern mountains, were each capable of carrying over two hundred people when equipped with essential gear. This ensured that the majority of their personnel could reach the Chaos Land within a single day.
A mooring tower had been pre-established with the help of an insider within the Iron Chain Gang, located beneath the gentle slope. The gang's upper echelon had attempted to build a small airship and a corresponding factory as an escape route, unaware that Mo Lan had orchestrated the entire operation, providing technical expertise and resources discreetly. Now, all the facilities, including the nearby airship factory and the airships themselves, were under Mo Lan's control, facilitating their evacuation plan.
"The pursuit team won't arrive for at least an hour," one of the directors assured them. "We've set up a temporary blockade below. No matter how they pursue, they won't catch up to us."
"In the Chaos Land, Mo Lan Corporation will rise again," another director declared.
"Yes, the chaotic land will provide the nourishment it needs to flourish anew."
Meanwhile, in the operations room of the Patrol Bureau in Yangzhi City, the atmosphere was tense and chaotic.
They, too, had received news of the airships' movement, which was hard to miss.
"How could you be unaware of such massive airships?" someone shouted in accusation.
A government official wiped the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, explaining, "We knew Mo Lan Corporation had a hot air balloon factory there, but never imagined it to be an airship factory..."
The location was remote, nestled deep in the mountains, far from Yangzhi City, and much more dangerous than the city itself. Who would venture there without a good reason?
"Director Cao, what should we do now? Our team won't be able to catch up," someone asked.
As the question hung in the air, all eyes turned to Director Cao, the primary person responsible for this matter.
Special Agent Cao's voice was stern as he spoke, "No need to pursue them."
"What?" came the surprised response.
Agent Cao glanced outside, then calmly repeated, "No need to chase."
At the junction of the Vast Prairie and Zangshan, a group of Mo Lan Corporation employees began to gather at a nearby airship factory established by the Iron Chain Gang. They were inflating a small airship inside while two large airships were descending to anchor nearby.
"Supervisor Cui, what are you doing? Who are you sending a telegram to?" a company employee asked curiously.
Cui Hong, the deputy head of security, was sitting alone, casually sending a message via radio. He replied nonchalantly, "Nothing much, just sending a message to our colleagues in Chaos Land."
Seeing his relaxed demeanor, the employee didn't doubt him. After all, even if he were sending a message to Yangzhi City, they wouldn't be able to make it in time.
As he watched the massive airship gradually approaching, his heart raced with excitement. Traveling to Chaos Land in such a vehicle would surely make him feel like a god descending upon the land.
Twenty miles away, on a circular railway track, fourteen 270mm large-caliber rail guns were positioned, ready to fire after being set up three days ago.
The gunners had already calibrated their targets, aiming at the area where the Mo Lan Corporation employees were currently located.
It had taken the Hangu City military a whole year to extend the railway tracks to this point, and from here on, the tracks would continue to be constructed until they connected to Yangzhi City, linking Hangu City and Yangzhi City by land.
At that moment, the telegraph operator received a long-awaited message and immediately notified the highest-ranking officer in charge of the operation.
The officer, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, looked towards the southern mountain shadows and picked up the phone. His voice was steady as he gave the order, "Transmit my command: Fire at the predetermined target!"
"Fire!"
"Fire!"
In the 1619 version, there's no mistake!
"Fire!"
"..."
As the command was issued, the fourteen rail guns roared, freezing time in that instant. The ground trembled, and the air was instantly filled with thick smoke.
After sending the telegram, Cui Hong leisurely took out a cigarette, lit it, and then handed a written message to the company employee beside him. "Take this to the five directors."
The employee's eyes lit up with joy as he took the message. This was his chance to make an impression on the five directors, a rare opportunity indeed. "Thank you, Supervisor."
"Go ahead."
Cui Hong slowly exhaled smoke, removed his hat representing the Mo Lan Corporation, and put on an old hat he carried with him. He then pinned a Great Prosperity Republic helmet emblem on his chest and looked up at the sky.
"What a beautiful blue sky..."
The employee hurriedly ran towards the five directors, but he was quickly stopped by the Blood Ink Guard. He waved the telegram in his hand and shouted, "Directors, this is a message from Chaos Land! Supervisor Cui asked me to deliver it to you!"
The five directors were immediately drawn to the mention of Chaos Land, but they were puzzled. They hadn't assigned this task to Cui Hong, and it should have been handled by the intelligence department.
A hint of caution and suspicion flashed in their eyes, and they immediately sent someone to retrieve the message.
At the same time, they glanced outside, seeing the Blood Ink Guard loyally standing guard around them, which put them at ease. With these guards, nothing could go wrong.
Once the message was confirmed to be secure, it was brought over. One of the directors took it and read, "Special Agent Cui Hong, codename Lone Goose, greets all of you and wishes you a pleasant journey."
The director's pupils constricted, and a sense of immense fear gripped his heart. Just as he was about to speak, at that very moment, a half-minute of continuous bombardment finally landed in the region!
BOOM! The shells not only covered the entire area but also detonated all the hydrogen stored in the airship factory. A massive fireball soared into the sky, rolling and erupting!
The dull explosion reverberated through Yangzhi City, audible to all and even causing windows to buzz and shake, sending dust cascading down.
"Agent Cao?"
"Agent Cao, this is..."
Agent Cao didn't offer any explanations. He simply looked north, silently removing his hat. Not just him, but all the Administration Bureau personnel did the same.
Most were perplexed, but some reacted, their faces turning solemn.
Half a minute later, Agent Cao put his hat back on, walked to the side, and picked up the phone. His voice was steady as he gave the order, "Command the team to accelerate and eliminate all enemies in sight!"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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