332: Chapter 332 Fighting the Empire

"A pity, Mr. Watanabe has likely sacrificed himself for the Empire," Sato said with a look of regret. If it weren't for him, this group would never have managed to leave the Central Continent so smoothly; they likely would have been discovered halfway.

The middle-aged man's expression darkened slightly. They had paid a heavy price for this operation.

"Watanabe-kun was a true samurai. The Empire and its people will not forget his loyalty and contribution," the middle-aged man said deeply, his tone carrying a ritualistic solemnity.

"Once we return successfully, his achievements will receive the highest honors, and his family will be well taken care of."

After a moment of silence, the middle-aged man asked again, "What is the status of the Expert Group? We must ensure their safety. They are the key to us lighting the sun of Controllable Nuclear Fusion. Any death would be a loss for us."

"Sir, four people are seriously injured, but our doctors are doing their best to treat them. They are no longer in life-threatening danger, including the most important one, Zhou Yan, who is also still alive."

"Good, very good. Sato-san, go and reassure them now."

A satisfied smile appeared on the middle-aged man's face. "Tell them as well that serving the Empire is their only, and correct, choice. The Empire will not mistreat anyone who has contributed. Once they reach our country, they will receive the best research conditions and the highest courtesy. Their names will be closely linked to the Empire's energy revolution and great rejuvenation."

"Yes, Sir!"

Sato stood at attention and bowed, a hint of excitement on his face. After completing this mission, his own future would be limitless.

—

At this moment, in a specially shielded compartment in the cargo ship's hold, several people were either sitting or lying down, looking listless, with various degrees of injuries and stains on their bodies.

The only thing they had in common was that there was no look of fear on their faces. They looked at the armed personnel guarding them with cold indifference, as if they were looking at dead men.

When Sato arrived and saw the expressions on everyone's faces in the compartment, the slight excitement he felt from the mission's impending success vanished, replaced by an inexplicable discomfort and even a faint sense of unease.

Sato was puzzled.

Why were these unarmed scientists looking at him like that? Didn't they understand their situation? Or did they... have some sort of backing that he didn't know about?

After instructing his subordinates not to neglect the scientists, Sato went to the adjacent room.

This room was bright and equipped with complete medical equipment. On the hospital bed in the center, a man was leaning against the headboard. His face was pale, and his left arm was wrapped in thick bandages, with a few spots of light red blood seeping through.

"Professor Zhou, are you feeling better?"

Sato put on a warm smile and walked to the bedside with a caring tone. "I'm truly sorry. Our people didn't mean to hurt you; the situation was just a bit complicated at the time."

Zhou Yan didn't speak, just quietly watched him. That gaze made Sato feel like a specimen being observed under a microscope, making him feel a bit uneasy.

But Sato's expression remained unchanged. "I presume Professor Zhou already knows where we come from. To be honest, we greatly admire your knowledge. Our country is willing to provide all resources to let this knowledge truly benefit humanity."

Sato continued, like a devout believer, "Professor Zhou, your colleagues are all safe. As long as you are willing to cooperate, I can guarantee that all of you will receive the best treatment, possess infinite wealth, and a supreme social status..."

But these words, which would be enough to move most people, sounded like the buzzing of summer mosquitoes to Zhou Yan—pale and ridiculous. He couldn't help but recall the scene where Captain Chen stood in front of him and was murdered by this group.

Zhou Yan finally spoke, but his tone carried obvious mockery and anger.

"A bunch of self-righteous frogs at the bottom of a well. You have no idea what you've provoked, but I think you'll find out very soon."

"Professor Zhou, what do you mean by that?" Sato frowned, but the former ignored him. Instead, that gaze that made Sato a bit frantic appeared again.

Didn't they understand that their lives were in his hands?

Sato's eyes sharpened, and then he suddenly thought of something. His expression changed, and he said with a slight smile, "Could it be that Professor Zhou is thinking your company, Third-Party Technology, will come to save you?"

"Then I'm afraid Professor Zhou will be disappointed."

The smile on Sato's face began to turn meaningful as he shook his head and spoke, "I have to admit, that company is very terrifying—even we wouldn't dare provoke them easily. But this operation is completely confidential; they won't know about it at all."

"Furthermore," Sato whispered in Zhou Yan's ear, "no matter how terrifying a commercial empire is, its nature is to seek profit. Professor Zhou, do you really think they would become an enemy of our Empire for the sake of a few employees?"

"Join us, Professor Zhou. This is the choice you should make. There will be infinite possibilities..."

Just then, the door to the ward suddenly creaked and slowly opened on its own. Hearing the sound, Sato instinctively looked over. There was nothing at the door; it was empty.

There wouldn't be any wind here. Had someone accidentally pushed it open?

Sato looked puzzled, then as if suddenly thinking of something, his face changed drastically.

Sato lunged directly toward Zhou Yan on the bed, but at the very moment he moved, a sudden change occurred!

The seemingly empty air nearby suddenly rippled like a stone being thrown into water, outlining a blurry humanoid silhouette that almost completely blended into the surroundings.

In the blink of an eye, the person's figure was fully revealed. He wore a combat suit that Sato had never seen before, and a pair of cold eyes appeared before Sato.

Sato had seen thousands of faces—some filled with honesty, some hiding schemes, some passionate or cold... But no matter what the expression, none were like this person's: hollow and numb, with almost no trace of a living soul.

Yet the sense of death he brought to Sato was so intense!

So this company really possessed such advanced Optical Stealth Equipment. Damn it, how did they find them and infiltrate so quickly?

Sato's scalp tingled. Then, the dark figure in front of him moved, fast as a ghost, his specific actions impossible to see. Sato only felt a blur before his eyes as a massive force slammed into his chest.

Sato, who had undergone long-term training, was as powerless as an infant before this person.

Before long, Sato's head slumped to one side at a bizarre angle. His blood-stained face stared hollowly at the ceiling; all his previous expectations had now turned into the silence of death.

In just a few moments, Zhou Yan and the others were all rescued by the H.D.S. Forces and brought to the deck. The scientists then heard a hum, and a Delta-wing Aircraft appeared above them as if it had teleported there.

An H.D.S. member spoke, "Professor Zhou Yan, gentlemen, you are safe. Please follow me back to the Black Watch Base."

As the aircraft disappeared into the horizon, the cargo ship also turned into a fireball and vanished from the sea's surface. Not a single person on board survived.

—

Outside, most people in the world had no idea what had happened today and continued their ordinary lives as usual.

It wasn't until someone discovered that the Giant Space Station, which had once shown its majestic power to all of humanity and spanned across the universe, was now positioned over Tokyo that the entire world fell into an extreme uproar!