288: Chapter 289 Something big has happened, the military is going to forcibly demolish our property.

Tianhai City.

Three days remained until Lin Qi was due to emerge from his seclusion.

Inside the top-floor office of Huichun Hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung for water.

Zhang Wei, Instructor Su Qing, and Chen Shu were huddled around a holographic map, none of them speaking.

On the map, the area representing the Federal Eastern Rift Zone was marked in a glaring blood-red.

Just this morning, the military had issued its latest bulletin.

Following the disappearance of a Scouting Platoon half a month ago, the military had dispatched a Reinforced Company led by a Third-Turn powerhouse three days ago. They carried the most advanced Life Detection Equipment and Law Stabilizers to conduct a deep exploration of the D-3 Region.

The result...

They had lost contact again.

A Reinforced Company of one hundred and twenty people, along with a Third-Turn powerhouse who was well-known even within the Federation, had vanished like a stone in the ocean without sending out even a single distress signal.

This time, the entire high-level leadership of the Federation was in an uproar.

If the first disappearance could be explained by "insufficient preparation" or "encountering an unexpected situation,"

Then this time, it was a resounding slap to the military's face.

This was no longer a simple rift anomaly.

This was war.

A war where they hadn't even figured out who the enemy was.

“Latest intelligence,” Chen Shu's emotionless voice broke the silence. “At ten o'clock this morning, the Federal Joint Command passed the 'Purification' motion. They have decided to use the Strategic-grade weapon 'heavens scourge' to conduct a blanket, indiscriminate Law strike on the D-3 Region of the Eastern Rift Zone.”

“heavens scourge?” Instructor Su Qing's brow furrowed instantly. “Are they crazy? That thing is used for clearing abandoned Sub-spaces; its power is enough to level a small city. Have they not evaluated how much Law disorder and Spatial Oscillation it will cause if used in the Main World?”

“They have,” Chen Shu pulled up a document. “The conclusion of the assessment report is that it will cause instability in the spatial structure within a fifty-kilometer radius, with an expected duration of three to five years. Furthermore, there is a thirteen percent probability that it will trigger a larger-scale expansion of the rift.”

“They dare use it with a thirteen percent probability?” Zhang Wei slammed the table in anger. “Are these people treating the Federation's land like an online game dungeon? Do they think they can just restart if they die?”

“Because they have no other choice,” Instructor Su Qing's tone was cold. “With two disappearances and nearly two hundred elite soldiers missing, the pressure on the military has reached its peak. They must produce a 'solution,' even if the side effects are severe. Otherwise, panic will break out not only among the public but even within the military itself.”

Zhang Wei scratched his hair irritably.

He understood the logic.

Sometimes, a bad decision is better than no decision at all.

At least it can temporarily steady people's hearts.

But that wasn't what he was concerned about.

“That mysterious person is still in that area, right?” He looked at Chen Shu.

“Yes,” Chen Shu nodded. “Right within the core coverage area of the 'heavens scourge' strike. The last time we captured his signal was twelve hours ago. He seems to be engaged in some kind of high-intensity energy activity, which caused a faint fluctuation in the signal shielding around him.”

“Then once 'heavens scourge' detonates, won't he...”

“There are three possibilities,” Chen Shu analyzed like an AI. “One, he is caught in the blast of 'heavens scourge' and is heavily injured or killed. Two, he evacuates before the strike lands. Three, he has a way to withstand the 'heavens scourge' attack.”

Zhang Wei and Instructor Su Qing exchanged a look.

They both felt the third possibility was the most likely.

For a guy who could treat the world as a cage and Lin Qi as a vessel, it would be absurd if he were easily killed by the military's strategic weapon.

“The problem is, this strike from the military will turn the entire D-3 Region into a mess,” Instructor Su Qing's expression was grim. “All clues and all traces will be wiped clean. It will be difficult for us to find him again.”

“That's not even the worst part,” Zhang Wei took a deep breath and voiced his greatest concern. “I'm worried that the military's actions will provoke him. If a monster that can survive 'heavens scourge' gets pissed off, what will he do?”

Silence fell over the office once more.

Indeed.

A madman holding a nuclear button was scary enough.

Now, the military was preparing to throw a bomb into that madman's home.

No one knew if this madman would press that button in a fit of rage.

“When is the strike scheduled?” Instructor Su Qing asked.

“Seventy-two hours from now,” Chen Shu replied. “Which is the same day Lin Qi is scheduled to emerge from seclusion.”

“Fuck!” Zhang Wei couldn't help but curse.

What kind of mess was this?

Seven-ge had worked so hard in seclusion for a month, only to face such a disaster the moment he came out?

“What can we do?” Zhang Wei looked at Instructor Su Qing and Chen Shu.

Instructor Su Qing shook her head. “There's nothing we can do. This is a supreme military resolution of the Federation. Let alone us, even Zhao Shouzhen couldn't stop it.”

“Are we just going to stand by and watch?” Zhang Wei was unwilling.

“No,” a flash of determination crossed Instructor Su Qing's eyes. “We can't stop the military, but we can... get there before them.”

Both Zhang Wei and Chen Shu were stunned.

“What do you mean?”

“Before 'heavens scourge' falls, we'll make a trip to the D-3 Region,” Instructor Su Qing said, each word sounding as if it were chipped out of ice. “Just because the military can't find him doesn't mean we can't. Chen Shu has his signal signature, and I have the Shadow Dancer's Stealth ability. We'll go and 'invite' him out.”

“'Invite' him out?” Zhang Wei's eyelid twitched. “Instructor Su, you're not joking, are you? That's a place where even a team led by a Third-Turn powerhouse was wiped out! And that mysterious person... God knows what level of monster he is!”

“I know it's a risk,” Instructor Su Qing's expression remained unchanged. “But it's the only way. We can't let Lin Qi face a completely enraged madman hiding in the shadows the moment he comes out. That would be too passive. We must seize the initiative.”

“But...”

“No buts,” Instructor Su Qing interrupted him. “Lin Qi saved Teacher Ye and gave me hope of breaking the curse. I have to repay this favor. I must do this.”

She paused and looked at Chen Shu. “What about you?”

Chen Shu's answer came without any hesitation. “The Boss's enemy is my enemy. My life was given to me by the Boss; I can return it at any time.”

Zhang Wei looked at the two people in front of him, each crazier than the last.

One was going to charge into a death trap, and the other was going to risk his life.

He suddenly felt that his earlier irritation was a bit laughable.

Compared to them, his bit of pressure was nothing.

“Fine!” Zhang Wei gritted his teeth, throwing caution to the wind. “If you're going, I won't stop you. But I have three requirements.”

“Speak.”

“First, I will provide all the equipment. I don't care how much it costs; I'll get you the best Stealth gear, defensive items, and escape devices available on the Federal black market within twenty-four hours.”

“Second, Chen Shu, you can't go. You are the intelligence core, our eyes and ears. You must stay behind and provide real-time data support and retreat route planning for Su Qing. Your role is a hundred times more important than being on the battlefield yourself.”

“Third...” Zhang Wei looked at Instructor Su Qing and said word for word, “Come back alive. When Seven-ge emerges, you can't be missing from the celebration feast.”

Instructor Su Qing looked at Zhang Wei. This fat man, who usually seemed a bit mercenary and timid, didn't have a hint of retreat in his eyes at this moment.

She was silent for a few seconds, then nodded solemnly.

“Okay.”

The plan was set.

A plan that could only be described as insane.

Before the Federal Military's 'heavens scourge' descended, Su Qing would infiltrate alone with Chen Shu's remote support and Zhang Wei's logistical backing to perform a surgical 'decapitation'... or rather, 'harassment' of that mysterious mastermind.

They didn't know what they were really facing.

But they knew that for the sake of the youth still in seclusion deep within the Earth Fiend Cave, they had to do this.

A storm was coming.

And they had decided to be the ones to rush into the eye of the storm.