Chapter 719: Detour
Chapter 719: Detour
After Mr. Pei finished speaking, he stood quietly to the side without offering any suggestions. This time, they were merely providing the necessary intelligence, and the decision on how to proceed was entirely up to Chen Chuan's discretion.
Chen Chuan stared at the map for a while before asking, "Do we have any information about the inside of that camp over there?"
Mr. Pei shook his head. "The garrison has conducted several reconnaissance missions from both the front and rear, but they were all intercepted from a distance, resulting in casualties. However, they haven't given up and are still making efforts as of today. If there's any news later, I'll inform Supervisor Chen immediately."
Chen Chuan nodded. "I think I understand the situation. Let's head back first."
"Okay," said Mr. Pei. "I'll show Supervisor Chen some more things."
As the two of them stepped out, Mr. Pei glanced outside the corridor and said, "The nights in the Fusion Zone are always tough to endure. The Old Imperial House takes advantage of this to launch attacks on us, which is why we've been so passive."
Chen Chuan looked outside; it was daytime when they entered the operations room, but in what seemed like an instant, darkness engulfed the outside.
Surviving in the Fusion Zone at night was another challenge he had to face. Fortunately, having inherited some of Chen Bitong's memories and experiences, he had made thorough preparations.
Mr. Pei led Chen Chuan out of the main building. Under the spotlight, they crossed an open area and reached the flying ship parking area behind the fortress. Two small flying ships were parked in the square, and he said, "This is the Heron. Tomorrow at five, it will transport a group of people to support the camp. If Supervisor Chen wants to go there, you can take these two ships."
Chen Chuan was decisive. "I'll leave tomorrow."
"Okay," said Mr. Pei. "Considering the vastness of that unknown area, Supervisor Chen, we've notified our people to prepare some transportation for you. As for this side..."
Chen Chuan followed him to the side, and after turning a corner, they saw a stable with several tall and mighty horses. The stable had obviously been sprayed with a potion, eliminating any unpleasant odors.
Mr. Pei approached one of the black horses, took the reins, and patted its neck. "These are the Dragon Nose Horses we've trained and bred ourselves. Although we don't have the special breeding methods of the Old Imperial House, they are gentle and have ample stamina."
"The best part is that these horses, being bred in the Fusion Zone, are like the creatures here; they can navigate the nights safely. You can rest assured when riding them."
Chen Chuan observed the horses; they all stood at about two meters tall, well-muscled, and agile. Impressed, he nodded.
Mr. Pei pointed to a few other horses. "Considering that Supervisor Chen will be carrying things, we've also prepared two packhorses for you. They have excellent endurance and can carry all your belongings, even if they're a bit slower."
Chen Chuan could tell at a glance that these packhorses had exceptional stamina. Even if they were slower, it didn't matter. To be honest, these horses were merely a means of transportation for him. If he really wanted to run, even the Dragon Nose Horses' speed wouldn't be enough.
"Thank you, Mr. Pei, for being so thorough in your considerations," said Chen Chuan.
Mr. Pei waved his hand. "These are minor matters. The people on the front line are risking their lives. I hope these will be of help to Supervisor Chen."
"These things are very useful," Chen Chuan said earnestly. He walked up and patted one of the horses, which obediently lowered its head and stood still.
"In that case, I'll arrange for the horses to be brought to the flying ship. The Heron will depart at five tomorrow morning, Supervisor Chen. Get some rest early," said Mr. Pei. After saying this, he saluted Chen Chuan and headed towards the flying ship parking area.
Chen Chuan didn't linger outside for long. After familiarizing himself with the horses, he returned to his temporary quarters in the garrison.
He took a quick shower and then sat down with a cup of hot drink. He tapped the Dimensional Token and retrieved a map from it.
This was Chen Bitong's map, showing scattered red and green dots in and around the unknown area. Most of these represented gathering sites of the local indigenous people, with red indicating hostility and green indicating friendliness. The gray dots represented uncertain attitudes, which would depend on the specific circumstances.
On the map, there were also several curved lines—paths that Chen Bitong had explored and could be traversed.
Of course, the term 'traversable' only applied to someone of Chen Bitong's caliber. The Fusion Zone was filled with unpredictable dangers and unknown creatures, and no ordinary Third Limit Fighter would dare guarantee safe passage through it.
Chen Chuan's gaze shifted to the location of the Linaksis Federation's camp on the map. According to Chen Bitong's information, this should have been a large gathering site for the indigenous people, but the two forces must have killed or expelled them to occupy the area.
However, they wouldn't have set up just one camp. Even around the garrison fortress, there were dense outposts, trenches, and fortified defenses.
It was reasonable to assume that outside the camp, there would be defense fortifications and small outposts. If one were to break through and enter from those defensive fortifications, they would likely have to fight their way through each one. Even if they succeeded, by the time they reached the camp, the enemy would already be prepared.
So he planned to take a detour this time, bypassing the camp via a back road and launching a surprise attack on its weak rear flank. By taking out this camp, he would effectively cut off the squad's supply lines and rear support in the unknown region, making it easier to deal with them later.
With a plan in mind, he didn't dwell on it further. He finished the hot drink in his hand, stood up, and went to the adjacent training room to sit down and regulate his breathing.
After resting for the night, it was now 4:30 am the next day.
Chen Chuan freshened up, grabbed the Xue Jun Dao, called out to Chao Ming, and carried a box as they left.
Mr. Pei was already waiting in front of the airship docking point. When Chen Chuan approached, he extended his hand for a handshake.
"Supervisor Chen, three horses have been arranged in the lower cabin of the airship. If you don't plan to visit our camp first and need to get off along the way, just let the captain know, and he'll lower you down. Lastly, I wish you success on this journey."
"Thank you," Chen Chuan replied.
Mr. Pei released his hand, took a step back, and bowed respectfully. Chen Chuan returned the gesture and then turned around, climbing the stairs into the airship. Inside, he scanned the area and noticed two teams of twelve soldiers, each with obvious implanted weaponry. These two teams were heading to the front-line camp for support, and there were another four teams on a separate airship.
Chen Chuan was dressed casually, not in his supervisor's uniform, so the soldiers didn't react when they saw him. He chose a quiet spot to sit down and leaned the Xue Jun Dao against the wall.
After a while, the two airships rose one after the other from the fortress, their propellers whirring as they soared into the distant sky.
Chen Chuan sat there with his eyes closed, adjusting his breathing, while Chao Ming waited obediently by his side.
One of the squad members glanced at Chen Chuan, nudged his companion with his toe, and whispered, "Isn't that the fighter?"
"Definitely," the other replied.
Another team member's gaze swept over the Xue Jun Dao, and he whispered, "Such a long sword, not everyone can wield it."
The first man said, "I heard the fighting up front is intense. The Old Imperial House has deployed many samurai, but is one reinforcement enough?"
"That's not our concern," the team member replied. "Let's rest while we can. Once we get there, there won't be much chance for that."
The cabin fell silent again.
Hours later, Chen Chuan suddenly opened his eyes. He tapped his Dimensional Token, which displayed their current location on the map based on the terrain. The passage he intended to take was just ahead.
He sent a message and a location coordinate to the captain.
Soon, two attendants approached and forcefully opened the rear cabin door, allowing a rush of cold, moist air to flood into the cabin, startling everyone inside.
What's going on? Chen Chuan picked up the Xue Jun Dao and stood up, patting Chao Ming's head gently. Chao Ming immediately flapped his wings and flew out, while Chen Chuan grabbed the box beside him and walked to the rear platform without a railing.
The airship's speed gradually slowed, and it began to descend. Chen Chuan pushed the box towards the ground, then leaped down after it.
The soldiers in the cabin were startled; they were at least 100-200 meters above the ground. Was he serious about jumping from this height? Chen Chuan's body plummeted, the rushing wind roaring in his ears, his red scarf dancing behind him, his expression calm.
He intended to brace for impact, but as he neared the ground, a force suddenly transmitted from his fluttering red scarf, lightening his body. When he landed, he felt surprisingly little impact.
He glanced at the fluttering scarf and said, "Red Fluff, thank you."
Then he looked towards Chao Ming's direction. Chao Ming had already found the box he had thrown down, surveyed the surroundings, and seeing no unexpected situations, approached the box, grabbed the backpack's strap, and lifted it from the muddy ground.
Chen Chuan turned around and gestured to the airship, which gradually descended and opened the lower cabin door. The three horses stood on a flat platform, suspended by a rope.
Once they reached the ground, Chen Chuan approached, untied the horses' safety ropes, and led them outside. He then signaled to the airship, which closed its cabin door and ascended once more.
Chen Chuan turned back, took out the items from the box, and hung them on the backs of the two packhorses.
After finishing, he mounted the black Dragon Nose horse, glancing at the distant turbulent river and dense forest. A chirping sound came from the sky as Chao Ming flew ahead.
He retracted his gaze, flicked the reins, and the Dragon Nose horse beneath him immediately broke into a run towards the front.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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