138: Chapter 138 Semi-Uncharted Wilderness Secret Realm
Lin Fan looked at President Ye Wenyuan upon hearing this.
President Ye Wenyuan's expression was not good.
Ever since Zhao Guoliang uttered the words "three days later for the expedition," his brow had not relaxed.
At this moment, he was leaning against the laboratory bench, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Lin Fan and Zhao Guoliang, before finally landing on Zhao Guoliang.
"General Zhao, you are pushing my student into a fire pit."
His voice was not loud, but his tone carried a rare hint of complaint.
Zhao Guoliang raised an eyebrow. "President Ye, what do you mean by that?"
President Ye Wenyuan took a deep breath and turned to Lin Fan.
"Why do you think I didn't tell you about this channel? The military hires outside help for expeditions, and the Association has been cooperating with the military for years; how could I not know?"
He paused.
"You cannot imagine the danger level of an incompletely explored Advanced Secret Realm. Ordinary Advanced Secret Realms have Armor King Rank Armor Beasts guarding them; for one in a semi-explored state, who knows what is hidden inside? Armor Sovereign, Armor Saint, or even higher are all possible. You are an Armor King, so what is this if not suicide?"
Lin Fan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but President Ye Wenyuan raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Your strength is indeed far beyond your peers; I do not deny that. But an Advanced Secret Realm is not a school training ground, nor is it the Association's simulation device. The Armor Beasts inside will not play by the rules with you, nor will they talk about martial virtue."
His voice deepened.
"Zhao Guoliang vouches for you, and I do not object. But if you die in there, I will not collect your corpse."
The laboratory fell quiet.
The Golden Armor Dragon lay on the ground, its golden vertical pupils staring at Lin Fan, as if watching a show.
Zhao Guoliang rubbed his nose and said nothing.
Lin Fan saw that President Ye Wenyuan was truly displaying Life Qi, so he quickly ran to his side, looking obedient and sensible.
"Master, I promise. Once I enter the Secret Realm, I will follow the army's pace closely and will never leave the team without authorization."
"If the army tells me to go east, I will never go west. If the army tells me to hit a dog, I will never chase a chicken. Please, just let me go in."
He paused. "Xiao Zhuang's evolution Materials are only missing the heart of the tide. If I miss this opportunity, I don't know how long I'll have to wait."
President Ye Wenyuan stared at him for a long time.
Lin Fan felt his scalp tingle under his gaze, but he braced himself and did not look away.
"Are you sure?" President Ye Wenyuan finally spoke.
Lin Fan nodded.
"Sure. I promise to come back in one piece, not missing a single hair."
President Ye Wenyuan snorted. "You don't have much hair to begin with."
Lin Fan touched his own thick hair, not daring to reply.
President Ye Wenyuan sighed and looked at Zhao Guoliang.
"General Zhao, I am handing him over to you. If anything happens to him, I will turn your military district upside down."
Zhao Guoliang laughed loudly. "President Ye, are you threatening me?"
President Ye Wenyuan had a blank expression. "Stating a fact."
Zhao Guoliang put away his smile and said seriously.
"Rest assured, I will arrange for an experienced captain to take him. Once inside, I will not let him act alone."
He looked at Lin Fan.
"Kid, did you hear that? No wandering around. If you dare to leave the team without authorization, I will go in and drag you out myself."
Lin Fan stood at attention and gave a sloppy military salute.
"General, rest assured, I guarantee to obey orders!"
Zhao Guoliang was amused by him.
"Alright, stop being glib. Go back and prepare. Three days later, at eight in the morning, gather at the military district. Don't be late."
Lin Fan nodded solemnly and walked out of the laboratory with President Ye Wenyuan.
...
Three days later, eight in the morning, at the military district gathering point.
When Lin Fan arrived, several military vehicles were already parked in the parking lot.
A person who looked like an officer walked over and looked him up and down. "Lin Fan?"
Lin Fan nodded. "It's me."
The officer pulled a form from a folder and handed it to him.
"Sign it. Outside personnel, responsible for your own life and death."
Lin Fan took the pen and scribbled his name.
The officer put the form away and pointed to a dark green military vehicle not far away.
"Vehicle number three, second squad. The captain's surname is Shen; listen to her commands when you arrive."
Lin Fan nodded and walked toward the vehicle.
Three people were standing next to the vehicle.
Two men and one woman, all around thirty years old, wearing uniform dark blue combat suits, with positioning talismans and communicators hanging from their waists, and standard backpacks on their backs.
The woman stood at the very front, with short hair, a thin face, sharp eyes, and lips pursed into a line, exuding an aura of "don't mess with me."
The two men stood behind her, one tall and thin, one short and stout, both expressionless.
Lin Fan walked over and greeted them with a smile.
"Hello everyone, I am Lin Fan, outside personnel. Please take care of me for the next two days."
The short-haired woman looked him up and down, then spoke.
"Shen Shuang, captain of the second squad."
Her voice was not loud, but every word was as hard as a nail.
"Once you enter the Secret Realm, you follow behind me. No wandering around, no acting alone, no unauthorized combat with Armor Beasts. When I tell you to walk, you walk; when I tell you to stop, you stop. Do you understand?"
Lin Fan nodded. "Understood."
Shen Shuang stared at him. "Repeat it."
Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, then repeated it solemnly.
"Follow behind the captain, no wandering around, no acting alone, no unauthorized combat. When the captain says walk, walk; when she says stop, stop."
Shen Shuang grunted and turned to open the car door. "Get in."
Lin Fan followed and sat in the back seat.
The tall and thin man, Yu Nian, and the short and stout man, Xu Tao, sat on either side of him, sandwiching him in the middle.
Shen Shuang sat in the passenger seat.
The car drove for about an hour, entered a desolate mountainous area, and stopped in front of a gray-white stone gate.
The stone gate was carved with dense runes, and occasionally light flowed between the runes.
Two fully armed soldiers stood at the entrance, and after verifying everyone's identities, they opened the stone gate.
Shen Shuang walked in the front, Lin Fan followed behind her, with the tall and thin man and the short and stout man on her left and right.
The moment he passed through the light curtain, Lin Fan felt a slight dizziness, and the world before his eyes changed suddenly.
The sky was gray-blue, and the sunlight poured down from above, warm and cozy.
Under his feet was a soft beach, the sand was silvery-white, and it sank slightly when stepped on.
This Secret Realm was entirely an endless ocean; the seawater was dark blue, the waves were surging, and the spray hit the beach, making a dull sound.
The only land was the scattered islands on the sea surface; the nearest one was about two or three kilometers away from the shore, and the farthest one was at the end of his vision, leaving only a blurred outline.
Shen Shuang stood on the beach and unfolded a map.
"Our task area is the seventeen islands in the periphery, including the surrounding waters, patrolling one by one from east to west. Ensure that no high-Rank Armor Beasts are inhabiting them."
She put away the map and glanced at Lin Fan.
"You follow me closely; there may be high-Rank Armor Beasts on the islands, don't fall behind."
Lin Fan nodded. "Understood."
Shen Shuang didn't speak again and led the three of them toward the nearest island.
Lin Fan followed behind, looking at her back, and suddenly spoke.
"Captain Shen, your name is really nice. Shen Shuang, the frost of frost and snow, it sounds especially dashing. And your temperament matches your name perfectly; at a glance, you are the kind of captain who is especially powerful and especially reliable."
Shen Shuang's footsteps paused, and she looked back at him.
"Shut up and walk."
Lin Fan chuckled and shut up.
After walking a few steps, he spoke again.
"Captain, how do you maintain your skin? Running outside every day, and still so fair? I know several girls who apply this and that every day, and their skin is not as good as yours."
Shen Shuang did not look back. "If you speak again, I will throw you into the sea."
Lin Fan immediately covered his mouth.
The tall and thin man's mouth twitched, and the short and stout man pretended not to hear.
Shen Shuang walked in the front, expressionless, but the tips of her ears were slightly red.
Lin Fan saw it, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, but he did not speak again.
Sure enough, no woman doesn't like nice words...