156: Chapter 156 Final Explanations on the Eve of the Mission! Who's Keeping an Eye on the North After Two Days of No Contact?

Six o'clock in the evening.

Third-level cockpit.

Zhou Yuan stood next to a folding chair, holding a piece of folded paper in his hand.

"Signal interpretation standards." He handed the paper to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen took it and unfolded it.

Three lines were written on the paper with a stylus.

One: A constant pulse width of 0.04 milliseconds equals military-grade equipment.

Two: A signal duration greater than 1 second equals a detailed command, not a time-calibration pulse.

Three: A directional deviation of 15 degrees North-Northwest equals a moving transmission source.

"The third point is the most critical," Zhou Yuan said. "If the signal direction changes from fifteen degrees North-Northwest to ten degrees, or even due North, it means the Iron Hoof Legion's outpost reconnaissance vehicles are approaching."

"At what distance of approach would the direction change?"

"The signal's triangulation accuracy is plus or minus five degrees; a directional shift exceeding ten degrees is required to confirm movement."

Zhou Yuan tapped the map on the panel.

"Based on the distance conversion, the transmission source would need to move laterally at least fifty to eighty kilometers."

"In other words, the outpost vehicle is advancing from the front of the Roaring Ice Abyss to its flank."

"Correct. This indicates they are performing a fan-shaped reconnaissance scan, definitely not a linear advance."

Lu Chen folded the paper and put it in a drawer.

"I've tested Chen Li's communication frequency; the signal is clear."

"Good. He starts taking over the Staff Department's daily affairs tomorrow morning. I've already finished briefing him."

"What about the migration progress reports?"

"Chen Li will report to you once every afternoon at four o'clock, using the same format I did."

"That works."

Only the faint hum of instruments remained in the cockpit.

"City Lord."

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow morning before I depart, I'll go to the greenhouse to pick wheat ears. Lin Wan said the grain filling is at its peak at six in the morning. Once picked, they must be immediately sealed in insulated bags."

"Three stalks."

"Three stalks. One for display, one for them to test, and one as a backup."

"Anything else you need to bring?"

Zhou Yuan thought for two seconds.

"I'm bringing a diplomatic endorsement from Black Rock City-State, stamped by City Lord Lin Xiao. It proves I am an official envoy representing the joint mission of Polaris and Black Rock City-State."

"Will the Dawn Legion recognize Black Rock City-State's seal?"

"Black Rock City-State had an informal trade contact with the Dawn Legion three years ago; there should be a record in their archives."

Zhou Yuan spoke at a measured pace.

"The seal might not have legal force, but at least it proves I'm not some random wanderer."

"A trade contact three years ago? Lin Xiao never mentioned that to me."

"It was on a very small scale. The City-State exchanged a batch of mid-grade coal crystals for two basic metallurgy blueprints from the Dawn Legion."

He paused for a beat.

"That transaction was completed through an outpost research station of the Dawn Legion in the Ash Rift Valley, without direct contact with their main city."

"An outpost research station."

"A small Lv.2 station with a few dozen people stationed there, primarily doing surface ruin excavations. Lin Xiao said it was still operational three years ago, but news has cut off in the past year."

"Either it was decommissioned, or Raiders took it out."

"Both are possible. But it doesn't affect the recognizability of the seal."

Lu Chen glanced at him.

"Zhou Yuan."

"Present."

"Once you reach the Dawn Legion, don't be in a hurry to show the wheat ears."

"Why?"

"Get a clear sense of their internal attitude first."

Lu Chen tapped his fingers twice on the edge of the armrest.

"If Evening Bell's conservatives are in complete control, rashly displaying high-value technical samples will only trigger their defensiveness. They won't have any desire to trade."

"The City Lord means to use the intelligence on the Iron Hoof Legion as an icebreaker first?"

"Yes. Intelligence is the foot in the door; the technical samples are the trump card. The order cannot be reversed."

"Understood."

"What if Evening Bell refuses to cooperate on the spot?"

"Then I'll stay in their city for an extra day and look for an opportunity to contact Forge."

"Is there enough fuel to stay an extra day?"

"Yes. Staying an extra day doesn't consume travel fuel; idling the iron wall for a day only requires fifty liters of diesel."

"One extra day at most," Lu Chen said, his tone dropping half a degree. "You must leave on the second day."

"Understood."

Only the sound of breathing remained in the cockpit.

"Zhou Yuan."

"Present."

"Have the four hundred nutrition bars been loaded?"

"Loaded."

"Medical kits?"

"Loaded."

"Ammunition for personal sidearms?"

"Sixty rounds per person."

"Spare batteries for the communicators?"

"Two sets."

"Cold-weather gear?"

"Three brand-new sets; Han Zhengqing found them in The City-State's storage area."

"Good."

Lu Chen's gaze moved from Zhou Yuan's face to the radar scan line on the panel, then back again.

"City Lord, do you have any other instructions?"

"No more."

"Then I'll head down to prepare."

Zhou Yuan stood up.

He paused for a step at the elevator door.

"City Lord."

"Yes?"

"If the Dawn Legion is willing to trade blueprints, what direction do you want me to prioritize?"

"Energy and weapons."

"Energy first or weapons first?"

"Energy."

Lu Chen's answer came without the slightest hesitation.

"There are still three nodes in the Power Engine branch that haven't been lit; high-level energy blueprints have the highest density of Truth Points."

"What if they are only willing to provide basic blueprints?"

"Basic directions are fine too. Metallurgy, materials, communications—anything. As long as the Truth Points density is no less than five hundred points per item."

"The baseline is five hundred."

"Understood."

Zhou Yuan stepped into the elevator.

The doors closed.

Lu Chen leaned back in the pilot's seat.

The time on the panel showed 6:38 PM.

Tomorrow morning at seven o'clock, the iron wall departs.

Seven hundred kilometers.

Eighteen hours.

Thirty-six to forty-eight hours of radio silence.

He closed his eyes.

The wasteland outside the window sank into darkness amidst the twilight.