64: The second ring is three rings less than the fifth ring

Fang Yun gently shook his head and said with a sigh:

"No wonder they didn't let me attack with them. It turns out there's no place for me in this set of tactics."

"As expected of the Buckle Family, their powerful strength can be glimpsed just from these skilled tactics."

Just as Fang Yun was speaking, Glenn and the others had already arrived at the base of the watchtowers.

They first suppressed the Nightwalkers on the watchtowers with firepower, preventing them from paying attention to anything else, and then took the opportunity to throw a few grenades into the watchtowers.

"Boom!" x2

Two bursts of flame suddenly appeared in the guard rooms of the two watchtowers.

After the grenades exploded, Glenn and the others circled around the base of the watchtowers a few times.

Only after confirming that all the Nightwalkers had been blown up did they stop their vehicles and send the message "combat ended" in the team communication channel.

Fang Yun smiled and sent them a "thumbs up.jpg" in the First Combat Squad's communication channel.

Then, Fang Yun opened a private chat window and said to Vavinia:

"Vavinia, you're not hurt, are you?"

Vavinia didn't speak but sent two emojis.

"No problem.jpg"

"Cat with hands on hips smiling.jpg"

Seeing this, Fang Yun nodded.

"Mhm. Looks like you're not hurt."

Between the two watchtowers was a tightly shut iron gate. According to intelligence, beyond the iron gate was the heartland of Aureole Valley and also the location of the Black Hand settlement's elite forces.

Up until now, both the Buckle Family and the Black Hand settlement were just "testing the waters."

Since the objective had been achieved, there was no need to stay at the base of the watchtowers.

Glenn and the others drove back to the Buckle Family's convoy.

Just then, Karl suddenly sent Fang Yun a private communication request.

Fang Yun guessed what Karl wanted to say to him while accepting the communication request.

After the communication connected, Karl's steady voice came through:

"Fang Yun. According to the intermediary's intelligence and the building and deployment information you provided, there should be no personnel stationed behind this iron gate."

"However, for the sake of safety, I still hope you can use your Hacker ability to scout the situation behind the iron gate."

Fang Yun nodded and replied affirmatively:

"Of course, no problem. Please wait a moment."

After speaking, Fang Yun once again infiltrated the Black Hand settlement's public network through the camera in the upper left corner of the iron gate.

Using the "Target Positioning" puppet, Fang Yun clearly saw the distribution of personnel within a certain area behind the iron gate.

After getting a general understanding, Fang Yun exited the network without leaving a trace.

Fang Yun organized the intelligence and then sent it to Karl in the communication channel.

Karl carefully read the intelligence that Fang Yun had organized, and then began to think about the next course of action:

『There's no one behind the iron gate, but can we rule out the possibility that a bomb has been installed on it?』

Fang Yun said this iron gate is controlled by an intelligent program and can be hacked to open automatically, so there's no need to worry about a potential bomb on the gate.』

『Further back, within the detection range of the puppet, no traces of Nightwalkers were found.』

『...』

『What are the people from the Black Hand settlement up to?』

『Could it be that the traitor and the Black Hand settlement have planned some other scheme?』

『Tsk. Let's take it one step at a time.』

『As long as we keep an eye on those suspicious individuals, everything should be fine.』

Thinking of this, Karl said thank you to Fang Yun.

Then, Karl issued the next action order in the team communication channel:

"Clan members, continue to act according to the plan."

〖I suspect the so-called "acting according to plan" is just a facade to deceive the traitor. (Dog head)〗

"In a moment, first let Fang Yun open the iron gate, and then we'll directly charge into the heartland of the valley."

"Afterward, we will split into three routes according to the plan, facing the enemies attacking from the signal tower and the caves on the left and right sides respectively."

"Among them, the Third Combat Squad will be primarily responsible for resisting the enemy's attacks, while the First and Second Combat Squads will be responsible for advancing and annihilating."

"The real battle is next. The intensity of combat and the level of danger will rise sharply."

"Everyone, be careful."

After hearing Karl's words, the Bakker Family members responded one after another:

"OK."

"Understood."

"Don't worry, Clan Leader."

Karl nodded, and then signaled to Fang Yun in the communication channel.

Fang Yun, who had been ready for a while, moved his mind and remotely controlled the iron gate to slowly open through Human Intelligence Ascension.

The moment the iron gate opened, a huge explosion sounded behind it.

"Boom—!"

The explosion stirred up waves of heat and swept up countless dust particles towards the Buckle Family's convoy.

The somewhat piercing explosion echoed continuously throughout the valley.

Fang Yun and the others were sitting in the vehicle and didn't feel much from the heatwaves and sound produced by the explosion.

「As expected, a bomb was installed on the iron gate.」

「I said there must be a trick with how empty it is around the iron gate.」

〖The homophones 'zha' (trick) and 'zha' (bomb) are quite amusing.〗

Just as Fang Yun was complaining, Karl's command and the shouts of the others came from the communication channel:

"Clan members, attack!"

"Oorah!"

"Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge!"

"Kill!"

Fang Yun didn't hesitate, immediately slammed the accelerator, and followed the Bakker Family members, beginning to charge into the heartland of the valley.

Just as Fang Yun started moving, the System's prompt sounded in his consciousness.

"Ding! Sufficient elements detected. <Combat Mission: The Beginning of the Trial by Blood and Fire · Second Ring (Ruthless Annihilation)> has been triggered."

〖Bringing back the beginning, the second ring is three rings less than the fifth ring. (Laugh)〗

【Mission Type】: Combat Mission

【Mission Name】: The Beginning of the Trial by Blood and Fire · Second Ring (Ruthless Annihilation)

【Mission Requirement】: Annihilate the Black Hand settlement's stronghold, "Aureole Valley"

【Mission Restriction · Time】: No upper limit

【Mission Restriction · Location】: Aureole Valley

【Mission Restriction · Other】: Destroy the trap set by the Black Hand settlement targeting the host

【Mission Reward】: 300 System points

【Mission Penalty】: Annihilation of the First Assault Squad

Fang Yun's eyes narrowed.

「The mission name mentions annihilation, but the mission restriction doesn't require killing everyone without exception.」

「In other words, some people might escape during the chaos of the battle?」

「Need to pay attention.」

「Also, a trap set specifically for me?」

「Quite interesting.」

「It seems I'll have to charge at the very front alone again. I hope Vavinia doesn't get angry.」

「I'll go destroy the trap first in a moment. Otherwise, if this trap annihilates the First Combat Squad, it will be troublesome.」

「Plugins or modules related to resurrection in the System shop are the most expensive tier.」

「If someone really dies and I want to resurrect them, it will probably take forever.」

「Hmph.」

「Just a mere trap, I shall strike and break it myself!」