66: Abyss Gaze

Chen Feng's gaze lingered on the title of that document for a full ten seconds.

His brain worked rapidly, arranging and combining terms like "Cleaner," "Su Clan," and "Asset Disposal." The outline of a bloody corporate merger and a family massacre instantly took shape in his mind.

He silently closed the file window, not letting anyone see the specific contents inside.

"What's wrong, Boss?" Reno keenly sensed the change in Chen Feng's aura.

"It's nothing." Chen Feng turned around, his expression calm, but a trace of icy solemnity had appeared deep in his eyes. "I just confirmed one thing—the trouble we've provoked is much larger than imagined."

These words were like a massive boulder thrown into a lake; the atmosphere in the command room, which had just been lively, instantly dropped to freezing point.

A young officer who had followed Reno in the uprising turned pale, his lips trembling as he spoke: "Mr... Mr. Chen Feng, Xing Zhan's Scavenger Unit is Giant Star Mining's trump card. We... we have no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. Why don't we find a way to reconcile with them? Hand over Bachm..."

"Reconcile?"

Reno whipped his head around, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at the officer, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed through his teeth.

"Say that again?!"

"I..." The young officer took a step back, terrified by Reno's killing intent. "I just feel that there's no need for pointless sacrifice..."

"Pointless sacrifice?!" Reno's fury was completely ignited as he grabbed the man's collar. "Have you forgotten how A Yong died?! Have you forgotten how he was chopped into pieces by that bastard?! And now you're talking to me about reconciliation?!"

"I haven't forgotten! But..."

"Enough."

Chen Feng's calm voice wasn't loud, but it instantly suppressed Reno's explosive rage.

Reno let go, panting heavily, but the fire in his eyes continued to burn.

Chen Feng didn't criticize anyone. He walked to the main screen, his fingers operating it rapidly.

"Everyone, look here."

Two data charts appeared side-by-side on the screen. One showed the detailed equipment parameters, personnel configuration, and logistics supply lines of Xing Zhan's unit. The other showed the existing defense systems, weapon reserves, and personnel combat power assessment of Mining Area No. 7.

"This data is something I paid a high price for; it's absolutely accurate," Chen Feng's voice was cold and objective. "On the left is the enemy, on the right is us. In a direct fight, according to the most optimized tactical simulation, our casualty rate would be over ninety-two percent, and the base would be breached within seven hours."

He paused, then pulled up another document.

"This is Giant Star Mining's 'Rebellion Disposal Regulations.' The consequence of surrender for all participants is 'Level 3 Purification,' which means being thrown into the Decomposition Pit. Family members will be demoted to the lowest class of labor slaves, never to rise again."

"Now, does anyone still want to talk about reconciliation or surrender?"

The command room fell into a dead silence; the young officer's face was completely bloodless. Cold data and rules were more effective at unifying thoughts than any impassioned speech.

"Since no one wants to die, then listen to me." Chen Feng's gaze swept over everyone. "Before we deal with the tiger outside, we must first clear out the rats in the house."

He switched the screen to the base's geological map. A faint light representing a life signal was flashing deep within Sector C.

"Our Steward Bachm is still alive. He and a few of his cronies are guarding a 'treasure,' dreaming of a comeback."

A cruel smile appeared at the corners of Chen Feng's mouth.

"Greed is the reason he stepped into the trap." He pointed to a newly discovered Associated Mineral Vein on the geological map that overlapped with Bachm's location. "Therefore, it should also be the tool to send him on his way."

"Lao Mo, calculate how much explosive is needed to detonate the support structures from K-11 to K-15 in Sector C."

Lao Mo was stunned for a moment, then a flash of excitement appeared in his eyes: "Enough to completely bury everything above, along with that mineral vein, turning it into a new rock layer a thousand meters underground!"

"Very good." Chen Feng nodded, his gaze returning to the screen, specifically to the encampment of Xing Zhan's unit outside the base.

"As for the guests outside... Xing Zhan," he said slowly. "Against a tiger, you don't need to risk your life to kill it; that would only invite the frantic retaliation of the entire pride."

"You only need to pull its teeth, break its legs in front of all the other beasts, and then throw it back into the depths of the forest."

"Let him go back and tell his master that this territory now has an even more ferocious beast."

He looked at Reno and Lao Mo, announcing that crazy and bold plan.

"Our goal isn't annihilation, but 'humiliating expulsion.' From now on, use all our long-range firepower, drones, and electronic warfare capabilities to conduct round-the-clock harassment of Xing Zhan's unit. Destroy their supplies, blow up their latrines, jam their communications—make it so they can't sleep or eat. I want that trump card unit of his to turn into a pack of stray dogs driven mad by flea bites at our base's doorstep, eventually forced to retreat in disgrace."

This plan of "harassing without killing, focusing on humiliation" made everyone's eyes light up!

They understood instantly. If they killed Xing Zhan, Giant Star Mining would send ten more Xing Zhans. But letting Xing Zhan return with shame and a failure report that exaggerated the enemy's strength would instead buy Hanhai Trade the most precious time to breathe and develop!

"Does everyone understand?" Chen Feng asked.

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with excitement and conviction.

Chen Feng walked to an independent console and activated the one-way communication and monitoring for the Sector C trap.

On the screen, deep within the dark mine tunnel, Bachm was holding a massive, shimmering ore, laughing maniacally with his few surviving cronies, celebrating their narrow escape from death.

They were completely unaware of the impending doom.

Chen Feng looked at Bachm's face, twisted by greed on the screen, and gave Reno the final order.

"Prepare to execute 'The Funeral'."

"As for the guests outside," the corners of his mouth curled into an icy arc, "send a few drones to deliver a 'greeting gift'."

Following his command, deep within the base, the structural demolition devices connected to Sector C's support structures lit up with a bright red countdown on the screen.

At the same time, the hangar roof of the spaceport slid open silently. Several armed drones with black liveries rose into the air like ghosts of the dark night, flying toward Xing Zhan's camp several kilometers away.