Chapter 567: Closure
Chapter 567: Closure
In the command post of the Jingbei Dao region, the communications room was bustling with activity as telegrams were constantly exchanged. Joe Wei Ting stood before the operational map, observing the marked troop movements.
A liaison officer approached and handed him a report, "Sir, half an hour ago, we detected unusual movements of the former imperial army."
Joe Wei Ting took the report and glanced at it, his voice carrying a sense of urgency, "The noble private army?"
Ever since the Spider Mother's split in the central city, their primary task had been to contain the former imperial army.
Even under such pressure, the former imperial court's troop deployment towards the central city was limited.
However, the noble private army was a different story. They possessed strong independence and shared governance with the former imperial court. Unless the war escalated to a national scale, they typically refrained from engaging in battles between the two sides.
But now, they had made a move, an extremely unusual situation.
"Immediately get our inside source to find out what's going on," he ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
About ten minutes later, Joe Wei Ting was still waiting when his deputy and the liaison officer who had just left rushed back, holding a telegram. "So soon?" he exclaimed in surprise.
"It's from our inside source," the deputy explained, handing him the telegram. "One of their auxiliary generals has fallen on the front line."
Joe Wei Ting was taken aback and reached for the telegram, puzzled. "We haven't engaged them in battle..." But then it dawned on him, "The rift?"
"Yes, sir!" the deputy confirmed. "They found a rift leading to the central city, but they encountered strong resistance, and an auxiliary general was killed there."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!"
The deputy was slightly excited. After fighting the former imperial army for so long, such a victory was still a rare occurrence.
Generals with titles were usually well-protected by layers of troops, and their formidable personal combat abilities meant that even if they couldn't win head-on, they could usually retreat. But now, one had been killed at the front, and if this news spread to the various command posts, it would greatly boost morale.
After reading the telegram, Joe Wei Ting paused in thought, "So, the deployment of the noble private army is because of this? Or..."
"Sir, an urgent telegram from the rear!"
Another liaison officer entered, saluted, and quickly handed a telegram to Joe Wei Ting. His expression turned solemn, and he immediately took it.
After reading it, his face became more serious than ever. He raised his head and said, "Immediately inform the Defense Department and the Central City Government Hall about this news and the situation. Tell them to find a way to defend, and fast!"
"Yes, sir!" The liaison officer responded loudly and rushed out.
Joe Wei Ting glanced at his watch, "I hope we're in time."
Within the rift, Chen Chuan looked outside. He knew that even with both him and Chen Bitong fighting together, they wouldn't stand a chance against a martial artist. "Mr. Chen, we can still make it out," he said.
But Chen Bitong shook his head. In a firm tone, he said, "Captain Chen, as I said, I'll fight here until the very end. I won't be going back."
After saying this, he suddenly turned around and punched towards Chen Chuan. A faint glow flickered on his fist.
Chen Chuan reacted instinctively, pushing his palm forward, and their fists collided in an instant.
The next moment, a force surged towards him, pushing him backwards, and at the same time, a psychic power brought in numerous things.
He only stopped retreating when he was outside the rift. He looked up and met a pair of eyes filled with expectation and a certain kind of trust.
"Captain Chen, go back," Chen Bitong said, turning around and striding towards the front of the rift.
Hearing Chen Bitong's last words, Chen Chuan's body froze. He didn't step forward again, for he knew this was Chen Bitong's choice, and he respected it.
At that moment, an incredibly powerful airflow swept outwards, causing Chen Chuan's hair to flutter backwards.
Chen Chuan watched Chen Bitong's figure walk out of the rift and disappear into the mist and light. After a while, the entire rift flashed intensely several times before sealing shut.
Chen Chuan stared at the large empty space before him. Across from it was a flowing river, its sound particularly clear at this moment. He looked down and saw the half-mask Chen Bitong had dropped, now cushioned by the flag that had been blown out.
He bent down and picked it up, wiping off the dust with his hand.
"Captain Chen," a voice called out.
Chen Chuan turned and saw dozens of security personnel standing tens of meters away, their eyes filled with reverence.
They observed Chen Chuan's military overcoat, torn in multiple places, with signs of scorching and soot, and bloodstains on his hat, indicating an extremely fierce battle.
Chen Chuan glanced outside, and the Snow Lady Saber's scabbard had also been blown out by the airflow, so he wouldn't need to order a new one. As he was about to leave, Fang Zhixin approached and took the initiative to pick up the scabbard, handing it to him, though his eyes held a questioning look.
Chen Chuan looked at him calmly, while the other's eyes were filled with darkness. After taking the scabbard, he walked away. Several people in trench coats and fedoras approached and said, "Assistant Fang, it's time for us to leave."
Fang Zhixin glanced at the direction of the rift one last time, nodded, and allowed these people to handcuff him. He then followed them and left.
Another person walked forward and saluted Chen Chuan, presenting an item with both hands, "Captain Chen, this is what Commissioner Liang asked us to give to you."
Chen Chuan took a look; it was a vial of recovery potion. He looked up at the sky, where the crimson sunset glow still lingered. The Spider Mother's split was not yet over, indicating that the end was not near.
In the Lower City, a heavily armed convoy from the Union Victory Company was passing through.
However, unlike the city center, the road conditions and environment here were complex. They couldn't always take the shortest route and had to constantly make detours and negotiate with others.
After driving for some time, they reached a tunnel.
This was because most of the tunnels in the Lower City were controlled by various gangs and factions. Everyone was on high alert as the heavily armed convoy passed through. Some factions, who had previously agreed to let them through, suddenly changed their minds and refused.
Che Gao Yi's expression turned cold. Although he was dissatisfied, he knew they couldn't engage in combat here. If they did, they would face obstacles ahead, and no one would trust them, leading to intense resistance.
Their mission was to escort the cargo out, not to fight. Getting stuck here was not an option, so they chose to detour each time.
However, this made their journey longer.
Chen Chuan was aware that if they delayed any further, once the split ended, the Handling Bureau might block their way.
After driving for over an hour with frequent stops, he turned to a middle-aged, overweight man in a foreign suit sitting in the adjacent seat. "Mr. Pan, how much longer until we get out?"
Mr. Pan's forehead was covered in sweat, whether from anxiety or the heat. Hearing the question, he quickly replied, "Mr. Che, at most half an hour. The people ahead are my old brothers. They won't block our way."
His words proved true, as the journey became smooth. The factions on the road allowed them to pass without any trouble.
After traveling some distance, Mr. Pan looked outside and excitedly said, "Mr. Che, it's right ahead. That exit leads out of the Central City."
Che Gao Yi remained calm, unlike Mr. Pan's excitement. He spoke a few words to Inter-World, and immediately, a vanguard vehicle sped off. After a few minutes, Inter-World's urgent voice echoed, "Mr. Che, the Handling Bureau has sealed off the exit ahead. They won't let us through."
Che Gao Yi's expression darkened. "The Handling Bureau? How could they be here?" He glanced coldly at Mr. Pan.
Mr. Pan became flustered. "Mr. Che, I don't know. It's not my fault. This road was established by the Iron Fist Gang and Roadthrough Logistics' higher-ups. The Handling Bureau shouldn't know about it."
Che Gao Yi understood that someone had secretly leaked the information. He didn't dwell on how this problem occurred but focused on getting the cargo out.
He asked Inter-World, "Can we break through?"
Inter-World replied solemnly, "Mr. Che, we've checked. There's a Third Limit Fighter guarding the exit. Although we can force our way through, it will alert the Handling Bureau, and it might not be safe outside."
Che Gao Yi narrowed his eyes. At this critical moment, every force of the Handling Bureau had to be treated as double. Yet, there was a Third Limit Fighter standing guard, indicating the Bureau's high importance and confirmed intelligence.
After some thought, he asked, "I recall you mentioned another route besides this one?"
Mr. Pan quickly replied, "Yes, there's another route deeper underground, but it's closer to the Plague Cult's territory. It might be a little dangerous."
Che Gao Yi had heard of the Plague Cult, but he wasn't concerned. Everyone in the convoy wore protective suits and masks. "Then let's take that route."
The entire convoy immediately changed course, and after ten minutes, they headed towards a tunnel located deeper underground.
Che Gao Yi looked around and noticed a distinct difference from other places. There were no Sun Vines, and hardly any light. When the headlights shone on the walls, they revealed dense graffiti. Although it seemed like random scribbles, after a few glances, an inexplicable sense of discomfort arose within him.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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