336: Chapter 328 Is it really explosive?

Neo spent a full ten minutes reminiscing, plus asking Mr. Gao to confirm once more, before he was certain he wasn't hallucinating.

But... why?

He was a bit at a loss.

According to the deductions made by himself and his think tank, there was a high probability that nuclear weapon could not pose a danger to transcendents.

It wasn't a consideration of whether high temperatures and radiation could break through their defenses, but rather that given the movement speeds transcendents currently displayed, it was simply impossible to hit them.

A netizen had once posted a video showing Immortal Xu disappearing from China and appearing in Ying Country with only a half-hour interval in between.

And that was excluding the possibility that Immortal Xu had gone to handle other matters midway.

No one knew that instance was an illusion created by Zhang Mu using a puppet, so everyone accepted the video as fact.

With such terrifying speed, not to mention strange and unpredictable stealth methods, how could a missile track them?

Therefore, Neo didn't think transcendents would take nuclear weapon seriously.

But the problem was, not taking them seriously was one thing; what was the deal with actively requesting to take a hit?

What if an accident happened?

Since humanity invented nuclear weapon, only a certain country that lived quite well had been hit by two; the nuclear weapon that were iterated and upgraded many times afterward had never been dropped on humans again.

Although their lethality had theoretical verification and experimental data, no one had data on a transcendent's physique.

Who knew if a direct hit would be life-threatening? Even if it didn't kill them, getting injured wouldn't be good either!

Neo's mouth hung open for a long while before he hesitantly said, "Mr. Gao... may I ask why you want to... er, take a hit from a nuclear bomb?"

"I sustained some injuries during the battle with Dumbledore. Some things following a nuclear explosion might be helpful for healing."

Neo regretted asking that extra question.

He was already bewildered enough, but now he was completely dumbfounded.

"Heal... helpful for healing?" The confusion in his eyes could not be hidden.

"You arrange the location and time, as soon as possible. Any problems?" Mr. Gao was unwilling to continue wasting words.

"Of course, I'll get right on the arrangements!"

"Mhm. There will be a reward once it's done."

Mr. Gao didn't say how to notify him once things were settled; he simply vanished on the spot.

Neo scratched his scalp, which had few hairs left, and instructed his assistant to call the patriarchs of the ally families.

Launching a nuclear bomb was no small matter; the location and time needed to be discussed, and he couldn't make the decision alone.

Soon, the private cars of two old men drove into the villa.

"Sit down and let's talk." They walked into the meeting room, and just as they were about to ask why they had been called so urgently, Neo interrupted and gestured for them to sit.

Once they were seated, Neo briefly recounted the situation.

The two who heard it were also completely dazed; even if all their brain cells died, they couldn't understand what connection radiation could have with healing injuries.

Unless it was a radiation monster from a sci-fi movie, but Mr. Gao wasn't that kind of creature, was he?

Neo clapped his hands together to snap the two out of it: "Don't dwell on those things. Handling Mr. Gao's task properly is the most important job right now."

He then emphasized, "The youth-restoring potion you desire—it will likely be possible after this matter is over."

"Really?!" The two old men were incredibly excited, nearly failing to catch their breath; their secretaries hurriedly fed them medicine and water.

"Don't get too excited, or you won't live to see that day."

After swallowing the medicine and gulping down several mouthfuls of water, the old man finally caught his breath. Ignoring Neo's teasing, he panted, "How specifically should we execute this?"

He was very anxious, which was understandable. After all, he was a twilight-years old man in his nineties with a host of physical ailments; he could kick the bucket at any time. It would be strange if he weren't anxious.

Neo smiled: "Let's carry it out under the guise of a nuclear test."

The three families had operated in America for many years, with family members in both political and military circles. Furthermore, rival families had been dealt with by Mr. Gao, making it very easy to work together to push for a nuclear test.

After pondering for a few seconds, the old man sitting on the left said, "Should we notify China and Ying Country?

It's a sensitive time right now. Conducting a nuclear test might cause them to have an extreme reaction."

In the past, this wouldn't have been necessary. As the number one power on Planet Blue, did they need to notify others to conduct a nuclear test in their own backyard?

However, things were different now. Both countries had transcendents, and they weren't just individuals, but vast organizations.

If it truly alerted the two countries and prompted their transcendents to intervene, it would be difficult for Mr. Gao to withstand them alone.

Neo nodded: "They both have transcendents, and this matter can't be hidden anyway. Let's give them a heads-up through diplomatic channels."

With the details finalized, the two didn't delay any further, immediately getting up to act separately.

One went to select suitable candidates to contact the two countries, while the other prepared a team and looked for a location. Neo didn't need to distract himself here and buried himself back in the school and spaceship projects.

The visiting teams arrived in the two countries the next day, informing them of the cause and effect to avoid misunderstandings between the parties.

The news reached the ears of the Director far away by the South Sea that same day.

He was also quite bewildered, thinking to himself, radiation can heal injuries?

Could it be that Mr. Gao and Godzilla have the same constitution?

Unable to figure it out himself, he simply ran to the seaside to call for Immortal Xu. Zhang Mu, who had expected this, appeared before his eyes a moment later.

The Director asked about the confusion in his heart. Zhang Mu didn't bother to explain much, brushing him off with a single sentence: "It is useful, but it is a heterodox path."

Seeing that Immortal Xu was unwilling to say more, he could only return to the cave base, scratching his head.

Yue Ruo was playing Solitaire on the computer. Hearing the door open, she turned around and saw it was the Director, hurriedly standing up to ask, "How was it?"

"It can heal injuries."

"How does it heal?" Yue Ruo was very curious.

"Immortal Xu seemed to have urgent business and didn't have time to say."

"Hiss—" The hairs on the back of Yue Ruo's neck stood up. "So you're saying they're for real?"

"They didn't even use a phone call; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to the door in person to say it. How could it be fake?"

"Tsk tsk tsk... If it weren't in America, I'd really want to go to the scene and watch. I've lived this long and never seen what it's like to be at a nuclear explosion."

"It's not like you can't go just because it's in America. The American leader said we're welcome to go there and observe."

"Really?" Yue Ruo was somewhat pleasantly surprised. "Aren't they afraid of leaking secrets?"

"With transcendents around, what secrets can be hidden?

Why did they only come to us and Ying Country?"

"True."

The Director sat at the computer: "If you want to go, then go. It just so happens the higher-ups plan to send two people to see exactly what's going on.

Let me think... hmm... you're one, and then pick another from the five-person team."

"Xiao Luo?"

"Her?" The Director was taken aback, Luo Xiling's flighty personality surfacing in his mind, his whole face wrinkling up. "Pick someone else. Immortal Xu isn't going this time, and I have to stay at the base.

No one would be able to control her."

"Alright then, I'll go handle it immediately." Yue Ruo left happily to contact the Su City Base.

...

After dealing with the Director, Zhang Mu turned around and summoned a Portal to arrive at the Saul Continent, in the military camp outside the Lake Royal Capital.

On the sandy ground of the training field, several Soldiers held rifles while performing various tactical movements, vaulting over set obstacles.

Damu, who had been promoted from Soldier to platoon leader, was currently serving as an instructor. He stood to the side with a serious expression, supervising and occasionally speaking up to correct the Soldiers' mistakes.

"Don't stop!" After once again rebuking an erring Soldier, Damu was in the middle of sighing over why there were such fools when he caught a glimpse of Zhang Mu watching from not far away in his peripheral vision.

Revealing a pleasantly surprised smile, he ordered the Soldiers to pause and quickly ran to Zhang Mu, standing at attention: "Lord Marshal!"

"Mhm." Nodding, Zhang Mu looked him up and down, noting his upright posture.

The first time he met Damu was the night before the Great Battle of the Silent Forest; back then, he was still a green young man.

Age-wise, he still was, as only half a year had passed, yet the entire person had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

His slightly thin build had undergone rigorous training, and his lean strength could be seen even through his clothes.

His eyes, which used to always flash with a hint of confusion, had now become incredibly resolute; clearly, he had found his goal.

He still remembered when the Lake Royal Family's Magic Tower was activated, Damu was responsible for leading a sniper squad to deploy semi-finished sniper arrays nearby.

Zhang Mu was quite relieved at this moment that they hadn't been used then; otherwise, he would have lost an excellent Soldier, and the First Army would have lost its future.

Even in modern times with highly advanced technology, one cannot negate the personal quality of Soldiers, which is sometimes enough to sway the outcome of a war.

Similarly, judging the destruction of a legion doesn't necessarily mean the entire army is wiped out; if all the veterans are sacrificed, that legion is equivalent to having completely vanished.

Veterans like Damu were the First Army's most precious treasure.

"You've been serving as an instructor for a while now, right?" Zhang Mu patted his shoulder. "How does it feel?"

"It's terrible, Lord Marshal!" Damu said with a bitter face. "Before teaching these Soldiers who claim to be Lake's elite, I thought the First Army's achievements were all due to the weapons you created. I was so wrong.

Are they really elite Soldiers?

I simply can't imagine that the kingdom's borders are actually defended by them.

Do you know, Lord Marshal? Those hand-picked Soldiers have to spend a whole month just learning the most basic aiming posture!"

Zhang Mu glanced at the training field. He rarely made public appearances, so while his fame preceded him, most of Lake's legion Soldiers didn't recognize him and were currently looking over with curiosity.

Zhang Mu led Damu to a bench on the side to sit, patting the seat to indicate he should sit too, while asking with a smile: "Do you think they are naturally dull-witted?"

Damu felt that sitting side-by-side with the Marshal was disrespectful, so he pretended not to see Zhang Mu's gesture and answered while standing: "It's not that, Lord Marshal.

They... are very strong physically, and their minds work very quickly."

"Then why are they so slow at learning things?"

"I feel... they don't seem to care about the future of the Lake Kingdom." Damu's eyes were full of confusion. "Isn't Lake their home?"

"In their eyes, clearly it is not."

"Then... what is it?"

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Mu explained: "Have you ever helped a noble farm their land?"

"Of course. Before joining the Resistance Army, I always made a living with my mother in the nobles' fields."

"Would you care about the harvest of the noble's farmland?"

"It wasn't my farmland."

"Exactly." Zhang Mu folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the bench. "They believe that Lake can belong to anyone.

The city lords, the nobles, the royal family, the King—but it absolutely does not belong to them.

In that case, how could they care whether Lake perishes or not, let alone strive for it?

But you all, the First Army."

Standing up, Zhang Mu put his hands behind his back and looked out at the rolling green mountains: "The folks in the Resistance Army are your family. If they are gone, your home is gone.

Of course you would fight to the death with the enemy for your family, for your home.

This is called... well, conviction."

"Conviction..." Damu muttered, turning his head to look at the training field. "How can I make them have conviction too?"

"Hahaha..." Zhang Mu laughed several times and turned to walk into the distance. "You'll have to figure that out for yourself.

War is coming. Step up the training."

"Understood!"

After finishing his routine training inspection, Zhang Mu found Domit to learn about the overall progress.

In the reorganized legions, each had First Army Soldiers serving as instructors. The training results were poor, but by the time the True Word Spell wore off in half a year, they should barely be able to use firearms proficiently.

As for the sniper arrays and magic guidance sniper rifles perfected by Geoffrey, the First Army had specifically selected Soldiers practicing with them, and it was expected that at least five special operations squads could be formed before the war began.

At the same time, Soren, who had arrived at the capital, was also establishing an intelligence department specifically responsible for the legions with Mihe's help.

Due to too many trivial matters and the scarcity of relevant professional talent, current progress was slow.

However, Domit added that the two were throwing themselves fully into it and believed there would be results soon.

Zhang Mu had a general idea of the situation and prepared to leave. Before departing, he instructed Domit that magic-conducting weapons were still forbidden for the reorganized legions to practice with; it was best to even keep the existence of the weapons under wraps.

To be honest, in a society like the Saul Continent which was akin to the Middle Ages, Zhang Mu didn't hold any expectations for the Soldiers' loyalty at all, especially when the situation on the surface looked like their side was certain to lose.

If Lake perished, they would just flee to a neighboring country and settle down. They were being exploited anyway; what difference could it make which kingdom they were in?

Zhang Mu predicted that once the war started, there would likely be no shortage of deserters.

He didn't actually care about deserters; those people were a menace if they stayed in the legion anyway.

He only feared that if they fled to neighboring countries, they would leak intelligence about the magic-conducting weapons, which would have a very bad impact.

Afterward, Zhang Mu ran to the palace and chatted for a while with Avril, who was busy distributing severance pay for the eliminated Soldiers, before returning to Planet Blue to wait for Neo's news.

...

Half a month later, in a certain desert no-man's land within America.

Yue Ruo and the girl among the five new disciples were sitting in the back seat of a jeep, speeding across the desert.

Looking at the rolling hills outside the window, Yue Ruo struck up a conversation with the man in the black suit in the passenger seat: "Sir, is the car driving ahead of us the Queen?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She actually came.

Initially, upon learning that the Queen would also observe the scene, Yue Ruo was very skeptical.

The antagonistic stance between Hogwarts and Mr. Gao was well known. The Queen's firm support for Hogwarts was no different from standing on the opposite side of Mr. Gao.

Even though Dumbledore was there and Mr. Gao wouldn't dare take action against the Queen, what if?

Transcendents were transcendents after all; maybe one day he'd be in a bad mood and, seeing the Queen there, would just crush her on a whim.

How Dumbledore punished Mr. Gao afterward would be meaningless.

The jeep drove into a secret base an hour later. Yue Ruo and the girl carrying a sword got out, following the man in the black suit toward the tallest building in the base.

Soldiers in camouflage uniforms hurried past them, and loud urging could be heard from the surrounding buildings from time to time. An officer on the left strode forward while flipping through documents.

Yue Ruo knew that America solemnly sending people to notify China would definitely not be a prank, but before arriving at the base, she had always maintained a hint of doubt in her heart.

However, the urgent atmosphere before her very clearly emphasized to her that it wasn't fake.

The muscles all over her body slowly tensed, her steps unconsciously becoming stiff, and Yue Ruo's mind was in a daze.

They're really blowing it up?