185: Chapter 185 Jiang Chen personally leads the expedition, with the Empress by his side.

Inside the bridge command room of the luan niao starship, the atmosphere was intense and eerie.

A massive holographic tactical map hovered in the center, replicating the Wasteland battlefield below, spanning several hundred square kilometers, with millimeter-level precision.

Jiang Chen stood at the command console, his hands pressed against the tabletop.

He wasn't wearing that flashy casual suit, but had instead changed into a black nano-tactical trench coat, the collar slightly open, exuding a sense of nonchalant handsomeness.

And half a step to his side.

Jiang Wanqiu stood proudly.

She had changed into a brand-new suit of shimmering silver battle armor—this had been crafted overnight by Academician Chen Shuyin using Earth's most advanced alloy technology combined with materials from the Wasteland.

Although it wasn't as "breathable" as the original, its defensive capabilities were maxed out, and its sleek lines perfectly outlined the Empress's breathtaking curves.

Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, her eyes gazing fanatically at Jiang Chen's profile, as if what lay before them wasn't a battlefield, but a divine showcase.

"Old Chen, has the fire-control radar locked on?"

Jiang Chen asked without turning his head.

"Locked on."

Academician Chen Shuyin sat at the fire-control console not far away, her fingers dancing across the keyboard, her voice icy.

She glanced at Jiang Wanqiu, who was clinging to Jiang Chen like an accessory, pushed up her glasses, and spoke with a tone laced with the sourness of jealous vinegar:

"All secondary cannons are fully charged and ready to carpet-bomb at any time. But, Consultant Jiang, isn't that 'bodyguard' of yours standing a bit too close? Is she blocking your view of the map?"

"It does not!"

Jiang Wanqiu retorted immediately, chin slightly raised, "I am Father God's personal guard; do you understand what 'personal' means? This is a tactical necessity!"

"You..."

Academician Chen Shuyin gritted her teeth, but reason ultimately prevailed, and she took her frustration out on the keyboard, "Hmph, a brute who only knows how to fight."

Jiang Chen pretended not to hear the subtle barbs exchanged between the two women.

His attention was entirely focused on the map before him.

Or more accurately, on the "full-map wallhack" enabled by the system.

In an ordinary person's radar, the battlefield was filled with fog of war. But in Jiang Chen's eyes, the coordinates of every Machina Legion soldier, every hidden firing point, and even the landmines buried underground were clearly marked, thoughtfully highlighted in red.

This was the legendary—God's-eye view.

"Old Qin, follow my commands."

Jiang Chen pressed his headset, connecting directly to the ground forces' command channel:

"The Third Brigade's tank regiment, stop pushing forward; that's a trap."

"Turn 15 degrees to the left. There are three heavy Machina units hiding behind that abandoned building. Bomb it for me!"

On the ground.

Brigade Commander Wang, who was commanding the charge, froze for a moment.

Left? Abandoned building?

The radar didn't show any enemies there?

But he didn't hesitate in the slightest; a soldier's duty is to obey, especially when the order comes from that "legendary figure."

"Turn left 15 degrees! High-explosive shells! Fire!"

"BOOM!!!"

Several shells slammed precisely behind the building.

Amidst the flames, three heavy Machina units preparing for an ambush were blown into the sky, parts scattering everywhere.

"Holy crap! That's godlike!"

Brigade Commander Wang broke into a cold sweat, "This prediction is absolutely insane! Does Consultant Jiang have a third eye?"

"Stop talking, keep pushing."

Jiang Chen's voice was calm and composed, as if he were playing a game of StarCraft with cheats enabled:

"Second Regiment's rocket artillery, extended fire, coordinates (X234, Y567). There's an underground entrance there, block it for me."

"Special Forces, sneak through the drainage ditch on the right flank. There are no sensors there."

"Air units, take note. There is anti-aircraft fire at three o'clock. Use decoys to draw it out first, then blow it to pieces!"

Command after command was issued with precision.

The originally deadlocked battle instantly turned into a one-sided slaughter.

The Dragon Kingdom's steel torrent seemed to have eyes of its own, always able to dodge the enemy's sharp edge in the most devious ways, and then strike hard at the Machina Legion's soft underbelly.

This is what you call—micromanagement.

Micromanagement with a full-map wallhack enabled.

"Too strong..."

Jiang Wanqiu watched the red dots continuously disappearing on the map, the adoration in her eyes practically overflowing.

In the past, when she fought, she relied on bravery, charges, and throwing her life into the fray.

But when Father God fights... This is art! It is the elegance of controlling everything!

"Father God, you are simply the reincarnation of the God of War!" Jiang Wanqiu couldn't help but exclaim, taking the opportunity to snuggle closer to Jiang Chen.

"Basic operation, don't be surprised."

Jiang Chen waved his hand calmly, but his gaze drifted past the battlefield, locking onto the depths of the ruins.

There, a black metal tower standing a hundred meters tall loomed.

That was the central command tower of the Machina Legion.

It was also the place where that "Red Eye" mastermind was hiding.

Although the peripheral cannon fodder had been mostly cleared, the tower was shrouded in an extremely high-intensity energy field, and the luan niao starship's secondary cannons hadn't been able to break through it after several test shots.

"The turtle shell is pretty tough."

Jiang Chen frowned.

If he forced it open with the main cannon, he could definitely break through, but in that case, the relic's core database would likely be obliterated.

What he wanted was technology and resources, not a pile of scrap metal.

"Looks like it's time for some technical work."

Jiang Chen straightened up, unbuttoned his trench coat, and stretched his neck, which made a crisp "crack" sound.

"Old Chen, take over command."

"Leave the remaining stragglers for Old Qin to clean up."

Academician Chen Shuyin was stunned and turned her head sharply: "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to raid a bird's nest."

Jiang Chen pointed at the black tower, a wild smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Since it can't be dismantled remotely, I'll just have to pay a visit and deliver some warmth."

"An energy shield of that level can only be dismantled from the inside."

"No! It's too dangerous!"

Academician Chen Shuyin stood up abruptly, her expression changing drastically, "That's the enemy's headquarters! It must be full of traps! You are the commander-in-chief, how can you put yourself in danger?"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Jiang Chen patted his waist, which was bulging, stuffed with all sorts of black-tech survival gadgets.

"Besides..." He glanced at Jiang Wanqiu, who was already unable to contain herself and whose hands were trembling slightly, and smiled: "Don't I have the strongest bodyguard in the universe right here?"

"Right, Wanqiu?"

"Yes! Father God!"

Jiang Wanqiu instantly drew the alloy combat blade at her waist, her killing intent erupting, her red eyes glowing terrifyingly:

"Whoever wants to harm you must first step over my dead body!"

"As long as I have a breath left, I will never let those pieces of scrap metal touch a single hair on your head!"

Watching the two of them singing in harmony, Academician Chen Shuyin stomped her feet in anger, but was helpless.

She knew that once Jiang Chen made a decision, not even nine bulls could pull him back.

"Lunatics! Both of you are lunatics!"

Academician Chen Shuyin gritted her teeth, sat back at the console, and hammered her fingers against the keyboard: "Go, then! Go! If you die, I'm not collecting your corpses!"

"But I will keep the luan niao starship's fire-control radar locked onto you! If the situation goes south, I'll carpet-bomb the area with the main cannon! I'll blow you both up too!"

"Now that's a good partner."

Jiang Chen laughed and scooped up Pikachu, who was sleeping on the control console.

"Let's go, little guy, stop sleeping."

"I'm taking you to eat something good."

Pikachu opened its eyes groggily, but upon hearing the word "eat," its ears instantly perked up.

"Pika?"

Jiang Chen placed it on his shoulder and turned toward the cabin door.

His trench coat billowed, his silhouette looking dashing.

Jiang Wanqiu followed closely behind, like a shadow.

"Target: Machina central tower!"

Jiang Chen stood at the open hatch, facing the biting gale of the Wasteland, looking down at the tower radiating an aura of death, a hunter's excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Let's go!"

"I'll take you to dismantle that pile of scrap metal's nest!"

He leaped.

Two figures plummeted toward the ground like meteors.