Chapter 731: The Pursuit
Chapter 731: The Pursuit
In the Unity Parliament Hall, the delegation members gathered once again, this time with every member present. The long conference table was filled to capacity.
The Action Coordinator stood at the head of the table, his expression solemn as he addressed the group, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have received news from the Convergence Zone. Our Camp One located there has suffered an unexpected attack, and Mr. Wilhelm of the Linax Federation has been confirmed dead."
"Is Wilhelm really dead?"
Many of the delegation members wore looks of disbelief.
However, some members had already heard bits of information before arriving and one of them asked gravely, "Can we confirm the authenticity of this message?"
"The message was received half an hour ago, encrypted with a telegram. The Linax Federation delegation also received the same message, sent by one of their members, so we can confirm it's not a hoax."
"Who did this?"
"Due to the limited information in the telegram, we haven't been able to identify the attacker yet. Based on the description of their attire, the assailant was wearing the uniform of the Dashun Handling Bureau's Investigation Supervisor."
The Dashun Handling Bureau's Investigation Supervisor?
The delegation members immediately understood the implication.
One representative asked sternly, "Is this the same supervisor who was previously sent to support the Convergence Zone?"
"It's possible."
A representative spoke up, his tone severe, "But you said he was supporting the establishment of the camp in the Convergence Zone. Why would he be there?"
The Action Coordinator replied helplessly, "We can't confirm his identity at this point, but if it is him, then our judgment was indeed flawed."
"Is that so?" The representative continued, "I recall your assessment of his strength, ranking him within the top 400 in the world. How do you explain today's events? It seems you've made more than one mistake. I think we should review the funding of your intelligence and action departments."
The Action Coordinator apologized sincerely, bowing slightly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize. This is our fault."
He continued, "Those assessments were made by professionals based on his past performance. If the attacker is indeed this person, then the data used for the assessment must have deviated significantly from reality. Perhaps he intentionally concealed his true strength."
Another top-30 fighter?
The delegation members exchanged glances. Regardless of the attacker's identity, their strength was undeniable, having killed Wilhelm.
Someone else asked, "Was the attacker injured? Is he still combat-ready? Can the camp capture him?"
"I'm sorry," the Action Coordinator apologized, "The telegram provided limited information. We've sent a telegram to the next airship heading there to investigate, but capturing this person might be challenging...
According to the description, the attacker killed Wilhelm in a single encounter. Perhaps we should..."
He glanced at the delegation members and added cautiously, "Perhaps we should focus on the camp's security instead of capturing this individual. The camp's main force has already ventured into the Unknown Territory, leaving insufficient strength to deter such a powerful fighter."
Many of the delegation members' expressions turned grave.
They were well aware of the camp's significance; otherwise, they wouldn't have gathered resources from various branches to establish it. Without the camp, even if they acquired the relic, it would be challenging to transport it back safely.
One delegation member spoke up, "Can we take legal action against the Handling Bureau? We came to support the front line, but we've been attacked by the Handling Bureau, which violates the agreement with the Dashun government."
The Action Coordinator looked around and noticed that the speaker was a representative who rarely attended meetings. No wonder they asked such a question. He patiently explained, "That's not possible. It's just a telegram without any photos. The Handling Bureau can easily deny it."
Even with this information, the Dashun government could argue that the attacker, dressed as an investigation supervisor, was one of their own. And if they wore your uniforms, could it be said that you're engaging in internal conflict? Moreover, the Convergence Zone, located at the junction of two worlds, is a battleground for both worlds, a place where only raw violence prevails. It is a place where the strongest survive and the weak are eliminated, beyond the reach of conventional laws.
A delegation member sitting in the front row asked calmly, "What's the reaction of the Linax Federation's diplomatic mission? They lost one of their own; haven't they made any statements?"
The Action Coordinator replied respectfully, "So far, we haven't received any response from them."
"What's your plan?"
The Action Coordinator said, "This individual poses a serious threat to our Union. Due to communication limitations, we'll make reasonable arrangements until the next intelligence update. However, I believe we should prepare for significant damage to the camp."
The member spoke in a low voice, "In that case, we're back on equal footing with the Dashun government. If this was the intention of their Defense Department, they've succeeded."
"The Action Coordinator interrupted decisively, "But it's useless." He raised his head and looked at all the delegation members with great confidence. "Due to the breach in the World Ring, the Jingbei Dao government's manpower is severely restrained. The forces we and our partners have deployed in the forward area far exceed what they can currently muster."
"Even with the addition of a possible World Ranking contender in the Third Limit Fighter, who could potentially rank within the top thirty, nothing will change. Although Wilhelm is no longer here, we still have Heros."
The mention of "We still have Heros" garnered agreement from many of the delegation members. "Heros," the Titan, was their best card, not to mention the coordination with the rest of the team. The advantage they had accumulated in their initial deployment was not something that one or two people from Dashun could easily overturn.
Deep within the Unknown Territory, Xu Chan was leading his squad through a gap in a dense forest with caution. They had been in this area for many days but had yet to locate the relic.
The relic only emitted radiance for a short period, after which it would dissipate, making it challenging to pinpoint its exact location.
Furthermore, the relic attracted not only humans but also creatures from the Convergence Zone, and there was a high possibility that it could be swallowed by some of these creatures. This was something they had to be cautious of, as it was difficult to sense from a distance, requiring patient searching.
Finding such a small object in such a vast area was extremely challenging, especially considering that the Convergence Zone was inherently dangerous, testing the limits of human endurance.
Xu Chan's squad had already suffered some losses during this period. While the core members remained intact, the support staff, technicians, and auxiliary personnel had already suffered a thirty percent reduction.
Even with Xu Chan's presence, it was challenging to provide comprehensive protection.
In the 1619th book, there was a version without any mistakes!
Xu Chan recalled an incident just two days ago when someone had spotted a radiant light within a distance of less than ten meters, suspected to be the relic. As the team rushed forward, a creature residing there swallowed one of their members whole.
There was also an incident where a teammate was walking along a path previously traversed by others, only to inexplicably sink into the ground. Although he was pulled out by his colleagues, everything below his waist had already been fused together by a powerful corrosive digestive fluid, making it impossible to distinguish his body parts. Furthermore, his body had been injected with parasite eggs, turning him into an incubation chamber. In the end, he had to be injected with suppressant medication and carried away on a stretcher.
The teammate was tough, knowing that he was a burden to the entire team, or perhaps he simply didn't want to face the reality. That night, he chose to end his own life. The person watching over him might have known, or perhaps they were negligent, but no one mentioned it. They could only cremate him on the spot and bring back his ashes.
Such incidents had occurred several times, and the losses inflicted by the Unity and Linax Federation were relatively minor in comparison.
At that moment, a member responsible for rear cover communicated through a boundary token, "Captain, they're coming again."
The team had a small domain creature that allowed them to maintain communication among themselves.
Xu Chan had anticipated this situation. Ever since their encounter with Blood Diamond, these people had been following them. Although they managed to shake them off a few times, they would inevitably catch up again soon after.
It was inevitable, given their large group size and the unfamiliar terrain they were traversing. Experienced veterans could easily track their movements, and the Convergence Zone was fraught with danger at every turn, forcing them to proceed with caution and slowing their pace.
Xu Chan immediately used the boundary token to communicate with everyone, "Everyone, continue forward along the path cleared by the scouting squad. Don't look back. Captain Hai, in my absence, you'll be leading the team."
Captain Hai, a burly man with a soul patch, responded promptly, "Xu, I'll make sure the team stays together."
Xu Chan patted his shoulder, then moved to the rear of the team. After the rear cover and reconnaissance members departed, he waited a little longer. Soon, a blurry figure appeared in the forest, forcefully tearing through the entangled vines and approaching Xu Chan.
The figure wore a crimson protective suit, with their hair tied in a bun. Their face and shoulders were unusually broad and robust, making their upper body appear exceptionally strong. In contrast, their legs seemed slightly slender in comparison. Their eyes, also an uncommon shade of red, were likely the result of altered tissue from an unknown source.
"Blood Diamond..."
Xu Chan stared at the newcomer, recalling their previous encounter. This person had withstood a direct hit from Xu Chan's heart power without any apparent injury.
Xu Chan wondered if he could withstand a heart power strike from anyone without sustaining damage, indicating that this person's power and body had unique attributes.
However, after that battle, the person had retreated and hadn't reappeared until now. Had they gained some new advantage?
As Xu Chan pondered this, his eyelid twitched, and he heard a series of booming sounds. The next moment, two agile figures appeared on the other side of Blood Diamond.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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