Chapter 731: The Pursuit
Chapter 731: The Pursuit
In the Unity Parliament Hall, the delegation members gathered once again, this time with every member in attendance. The long conference table was filled to capacity.
Standing at the head of the table, the Action Team Leader addressed the group with a solemn expression, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have received news from the Fusion Zone. Our Camp One located there has suffered an unexpected attack, and Mr. Wilhelm of the Linaksis Federation has been confirmed dead."
"Is Mr. Wilhelm really dead?" exclaimed a delegation member, their face filled with disbelief.
Many of the delegation members were visibly shocked, but some had already heard rumors before arriving. One of them, with a serious demeanor, asked, "Can we confirm the authenticity of this message?"
"The message arrived half an hour ago, encrypted. The Linaksis Federation delegation also received the same news from their member, so we can confirm it's not a hoax."
"Who did this?" another member inquired.
"Due to the limited content of the telegram, we haven't been able to identify the attacker yet. Based on the description of their attire in the message, the assailant was wearing the uniform of an Investigation Supervisor from the Da Shun Investigation Bureau," the Action Team Leader explained.
The Investigation Supervisor from the Da Shun Investigation Bureau?
The entire delegation immediately understood the implication.
A representative member asked gravely, "Is it the same Investigation Supervisor who was sent to support the Fusion Zone?"
"It's possible," the Action Team Leader replied.
One representative immediately demanded an explanation, "But you said he was supporting the camp established by Da Shun there. Why would he be in the Fusion Zone?"
The Action Team Leader sighed, "We're not certain it's him, but if it is, then our judgment was indeed flawed."
"What?" The representative continued, "I recall your assessment of his strength, which ranked him within the top 400 worldwide. How do you explain this incident? It seems you've made more than one mistake. I think we should review the funding of your intelligence and action departments."
The Action Team Leader apologized sincerely, bowing slightly, "My apologies, ladies and gentlemen. This is our fault."
He continued, "Those assessments were made by professionals based on his past performance. If it was indeed him, then the data and evaluation must have deviated significantly from the facts, or perhaps he intentionally concealed his true strength."
Another top-30 Fighter?
The delegation members exchanged glances, acknowledging the undeniable strength of the attacker.
"Was the attacker injured? Do they still pose a threat? Can the camp capture them?" asked another member.
"I'm sorry," the Action Team Leader apologized. "The telegram we received was limited in content. We've sent a telegram to the next flying ship heading there to investigate, but capturing the assailant might be challenging..."
According to the description in the telegram, the attacker killed Mr. Wilhelm in an instant. Perhaps..."
He glanced at the delegation members and added cautiously, "We should consider the camp's security more seriously instead of focusing on capturing this individual. The camp's main forces have already ventured into the Unknown Region, leaving insufficient defenses against such a powerful Fighter."
Many of the delegation members stiffened at this reminder.
They were well aware of the camp's significance; otherwise, they wouldn't have allocated resources from various branches to establish it. Without this camp, even if they acquired the Relic, it would be nearly impossible to transport it back to the rear safely.
A delegation member spoke up, "Can we take legal action against the Investigation Bureau? We were sent to support the front lines, but we've been attacked by the Bureau. This violates the rules of the Grand League."
The Action Team Leader noticed that the speaker was a representative who rarely attended meetings, which explained their question. He patiently clarified, "That's not possible. It's just a telegram without any photos. The Investigation Bureau can easily deny it."
Even with such a telegram, the Da Shun government could argue that the attacker wearing the Investigation Supervisor's uniform doesn't prove their identity. If they accused the government, they might be accused of infighting. The Fusion Zone, located at the intersection of two worlds, was a battleground for both worlds, devoid of order. The only law there was the survival of the fittest, where strength reigned supreme.
A delegation member seated in the front row asked calmly, "What's the reaction of the Linaksis Federation's diplomatic corps? One of their own has died; do they have no response?"
"So far, we haven't received any news from them," the Action Team Leader replied respectfully.
"What are your plans?"
"This individual has caused severe harm to our Union, but due to communication limitations, we can't make reasonable arrangements until the next intelligence arrives. However, I believe we should prepare for significant losses at the camp," the Action Team Leader answered.
The member spoke in a deep voice, "This puts us on the same level as the Da Shun government. If this was the intention of their defense department, they've succeeded."
The action team leader interrupted decisively, "But it's useless." He lifted his head and looked at everyone in the delegation, speaking with utmost confidence: "Due to the breach in the World Ring, the Jingbei Dao Government has been severely constrained in terms of manpower. The forces we and our partners have deployed in the forward area far surpass what they can muster at this moment."
"Even with the addition of a possible world-ranked Third Limit Fighter, who could potentially rank within the top thirty, nothing would change. Although Wilhelm is no longer with us, we still have Euseios Hross."
The mention of "Euseios Hross" garnered agreement from many delegation members. "Euseios Hross," the Titan, was their best card, not to mention the coordination with other team members. The advantage they had accumulated in their initial investment was not something that one or two individuals from the Da Shun Investigation Bureau could overturn.
Deep within the unknown region, Xu Chan was leading his squad through a gap in a dense forest, carefully navigating their way. They had been in this area for many days but had yet to locate the relic.
The relic only appeared for a short time, emitting a faint glow, before disappearing. This made it challenging to pinpoint its exact location.
Not only did the relic attract people, but it also drew the attention of creatures from the Fusion Zone. It was highly likely that some creatures had consumed it, and this was difficult to sense without getting close. Patience was required for a thorough search.
Searching for such a small object in such a vast area was extremely challenging, especially considering the Fusion Zone's inherent dangers.
During this time, Xu Chan's squad had suffered some losses. While the main force remained intact, they had lost three-tenths of their technical, logistical, and support staff.
Even with his presence, it was challenging to protect everyone.
Just two days ago, someone had spotted a glow suspected to be the relic less than a hundred meters away. As soon as the forward team member rushed over, they were swallowed whole by a creature lurking nearby.
Another team member had been walking along a path previously taken by teammates when they suddenly sank into the ground. Although they were pulled out by a fellow squad member, everything from the waist down had been fused together by a powerful corrosive digestive fluid, making it impossible to distinguish individual body parts. Furthermore, their body had been injected with parasitic eggs, turning them into an incubation chamber. In the end, they could only be injected with suppressants and carried back on a stretcher.
This team member was tough-minded, aware of the burden they placed on the team. Perhaps out of sheer determination not to face the consequences, they chose to end their life that very night. The person watching over them may have known, or perhaps they were unaware, but no one mentioned the incident. Their body was cremated, and the ashes were taken back.
Similar situations had occurred several times, and ironically, the losses inflicted by the Union and the Linaksis Federation, whom they had initially been wary of, were minimal.
A member responsible for rearguard protection communicated through a Dimensional Token: "Captain, they're here again."
The team possessed a Miniature Field Creature, enabling them to maintain communication among themselves.
Xu Chan had anticipated this situation. Ever since their encounter with Blood Diamond, these individuals had been following them from the rear. Although they had managed to shake them off a few times, they would reappear soon after.
It was an unavoidable situation. With such a large group traveling through unfamiliar terrain, it was inevitable that they would leave traces and signs of their presence, which experienced veterans could easily detect. The Fusion Zone was fraught with dangers, requiring cautious and slow movement, preventing them from increasing their speed.
Xu Chan immediately used the Dimensional Token to communicate with everyone: "Everyone, continue forward along the path cleared by the scouting squad. No need to look back. Captain Hai, in my absence, you will lead the team."
Captain Hai, a burly man with a bushy beard, responded promptly, "Xu, I'll ensure the team stays together."
Xu Chan patted his shoulder and then moved to the rear of the squad. After the rear guard members finished their duty, he waited a moment longer. Soon, a blurry figure appeared among the trees, forcefully pulling away the sawtooth vines that entangled them, and approached Xu Chan.
The figure was clad in a crimson protective suit, with their hair tied in a bun. Their face and shoulders were exceptionally broad and robust, making their upper body appear exceptionally muscular. In contrast, their legs were slightly slender. Their eyes, a rare shade of red, hinted at a possible mutation caused by an anomalous organization.
"Blood Diamond..."
Xu Chan fixed his gaze on the approaching figure. He had previously engaged in combat with this individual and had landed a direct Heart Force strike on them, yet they remained unscathed.
Xu Chan questioned his own abilities, knowing that enduring a direct Heart Force attack from anyone would result in some form of injury. This individual's Force and body seemed to possess unique qualities.
After their initial encounter, the opponent may have realized they couldn't defeat Xu Chan and retreated. They hadn't appeared since, but now they stood before him again, perhaps with newfound confidence?
As Xu Chan pondered this, his eyelids twitched, and he heard a series of explosive sounds, rapidly approaching from a distance. The next moment, two agile figures appeared, flanking Blood Diamond.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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