51: Section 51

Chapter 52: Emergency Descent Mission

Mark looked at Jing Nan and asked, "Which collection point has the materials to repair the food manufacturing equipment?"

Jing Nan checked her tablet and said, "The nearest collection point is Area T48."

"Which side has a more complex situation?"

"Area T50, I'd say."

Mark turned to look at Morgan, "City Lord, I should be the one to collect the medicine. Jing Yuan lacks experience; I'm worried he won't be able to handle a complex situation."

Jing Yuan looked at Mark; if he hadn't known Mark from an outsider's perspective, he might have also thought Mark was trying to curry favor with Morgan.

After all, the medicine was a matter of life and death for Morgan. Whoever brought it back would essentially be Morgan's savior!

Who wouldn't want to snatch such a massive achievement?

At least, that was exactly what Charles was thinking right now.

But Mark's true intention was simply that, facing a complex situation, his own success rate would be higher.

"You may discuss the specific arrangements among yourselves," Morgan said, appearing indifferent.

After the council meeting ended, Mark, Jing Nan, and Jing Yuan walked together.

Mark said to Jing Yuan, "This happened so suddenly that there's been no preparation, yet you're being asked to face the situation underground alone."

"It's fine. I led a team alone during the last mission too!"

"The situation last time wasn't this complex. But don't worry, I'll have Kun Jie, Gao Ge, and the others go with you. They're experienced, so listen to their advice if anything happens."

"Alright," Jing Yuan nodded in agreement.

Then Jing Nan said, "Area T48 is closest to us, so we'll arrange for your team to descend first. Although the environment there is slightly simpler than Area T50, it's still very complex. You must be mentally prepared."

"What types of Phage Beasts are in Area T48?"

"There's no updated data yet, but since time is tight, we'll release drones to scout Area T48 first. The data will be delivered to you an hour before you descend."

"Is the schedule that tight? With only one hour, I won't even have time to make arrangements in advance."

"Yes!" Mark said. "You must get used to this intensity of work. The situations we Wasteland Hunters encounter on The Surface are constantly changing."

Jing Nan used her tablet to simulate the flight path map and then estimated the time.

"It's five hours until we're over Area T48. We'll meet at the Armament Preparation Depot in four hours."

"Alright!" The three then went their separate ways.

Jing Yuan originally intended to go back to his quarters to change, but after taking two steps, he encountered Fan Lü standing at a crossroads, seemingly waiting for him.

"Vice-Captain Jing Yuan! The Leader requests your presence!"

"What arrangements does the Leader have?"

Fan Lü made a gesturing motion and said, "Please follow me to the Law Enforcement Office. The Leader will tell you personally."

Jing Yuan thought to himself that it likely had to do with the mission to collect medicine on The Surface. He was quite curious; this matter concerned his father's life and death, yet he still wanted to cause trouble?

Since there was still time, Jing Yuan followed Fan Lü.

Arriving at the Law Enforcement Office, Charles was enjoying his breakfast.

Having gone to the meeting early in the morning, he hadn't had time to eat yet.

Jing Yuan didn't stand on ceremony with Charles. He walked to the other side of the long table, sat down, and asked with a smile, "What orders do you have for me, Leader?"

"Vice-Captain Jing Yuan, I hope you can do your absolute best on this descent mission."

Charles's words surprised Jing Yuan slightly.

"Of course, I will do my utmost to complete this mission."

"In addition, I need you to help me with something."

Charles said while eating, "I need you to help me take a group of people down with you."

Jing Yuan was curious about what kind of people Charles wanted him to take, but he refused first, "That's against the rules."

"What I say is the rule."

Facing Charles's assertiveness, Jing Yuan just smiled and asked, "Who are they? What are they going to The Surface for?"

"I'll bring them to find you in a moment. They are also going to The Surface to collect resources. As for what resources, you don't need to know. You just need to cooperate with them!"

Jing Yuan sneered and said, "Taking them down is fine, but everything down there must be under my command. After all, I am the Deputy Captain of the Wasteland Hunters."

"Don't forget how you got your position as Deputy Captain!" It was Fan Lü who spoke.

Jing Yuan spread his hands and laughed, "Didn't I earn it by participating in the selection myself?"

Even Charles was stunned; this guy was certainly thick-skinned.

However, Charles quickly reacted and said, "It's true you are now a Deputy Captain of the Wasteland Hunters, but you... also have to listen to me."

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't listen, that blonde beauty Penny might have to complete a Breeding Mission with another Upper Citizen male! As for that Dust Citizen 4277, I expect you won't be seeing her again."

Jing Yuan's eyelids lowered slightly, his pupils constricting as he stared at Charles with a gaze as sharp as a blade.

He had considered that Charles might use Penny to blackmail him, but he hadn't expected even 4277 to be dragged into this.

Penny was an Upper Citizen; at most, she'd be arranged to perform a Breeding Mission in the Hall of Dawn. But a Dust Citizen—they could be killed on a whim, as no one cared about the life of a Dust Citizen.

"Hmph!" Jing Yuan said with a faint smile, "A woman who sleeps in the Hall of Dawn and a little Dust Citizen girl—you think I care?"

"You don't care?" Charles countered.

Swish!

Jing Yuan suddenly threw a small flying dagger, which pierced toward Charles like black lightning. It was so fast that only Fan Lü was present, and she didn't react at all.

Even for Charles, by the time he reacted, the small flying dagger was already embedded in the back of the chair by his ear, having severed a strand of his hair.

Both Charles and Fan Lü felt a wave of lingering fear; if Jing Yuan had wanted to kill Charles just now, he would have already succeeded.

"Guards!"

Fan Lü shouted, and over a dozen armed Law Enforcers rushed in.

But what use was such reaction speed in front of Jing Yuan?

Jing Yuan remained seated, smiling at Charles. "That blonde woman, I've slept with her three times and I'm already tired of her. Arrange her however you like! As for that Dust Citizen, I'm having her make some things for me; once they're done, her life or death is no concern of mine." Jing Yuan pointed to the dagger stuck next to Charles's head and said, "This flying dagger... I just want to tell you that I hate being threatened! We have a deal, but it's just a deal! Of the three people I wanted, you haven't given me a single one, yet you want to order me around?" After saying this, Jing Yuan glanced at Fan Lü.

The meaning was clear: originally Jing Yuan had said he wanted to go to the Hall of Dawn with Fan Lü, Vandy, and Jing Nan, and if Charles agreed, he would work for him.

Now, although Jing Yuan had been to the Hall of Dawn, it wasn't with those three.

It was Charles who had shown a lack of sincerity first.

"You want to rely on threats to make me submit? Sorry, I'd rather go down fighting!" Jing Yuan took out another flying dagger, brandished it, and said, "You can also try—will their bullets kill me first? Or will my flying dagger pierce your head first?"

Charles's eyes flashed with a murderous light, but he quickly regained his composure.

To play the game of power, one cannot rely on reckless bravado!

Charles waved his hand, signaling the Law Enforcers to withdraw. Then he said with a smile, "Understood, we are in a transaction. In that case, after you finish this for me, I'll arrange a grand gift for you upon your return."

Charles backed down; he chose rewards over threats, but this wasn't the concession Jing Yuan wanted.

But right now, Jing Yuan had no choice; Charles had already noticed Penny and 4277.

Penny aside, after all, feelings had developed over time. Although 4277 didn't have much to do with him, Jing Yuan didn't want her to be eliminated because of his affairs.

He had originally wanted to break her up with 4068 to save her, but he didn't expect that before Charles could use 4277 to threaten 4068, he would use her to threaten himself instead.

"Fine! I agree!" Jing Yuan gave a forced smile and said, "But I have one rule: it must not affect my mission, otherwise I can't guarantee they'll come back!"

"Deal!"

Both saw the other's concession, but neither spoke it plainly.

The bottom line is something you test and then stop; if you truly cross it, it benefits no one.

After Jing Yuan left, Charles looked at the flying dagger on the back of the chair, feeling a wave of lingering fear.

Chapter 53: Inspector of the Light and Shadow Society

Walking out of the Law Enforcement Office, Jing Yuan felt a bit of regret; he should have taken the flying dagger with him just now.

It was just that if he had gone over to pull the blade out, it would have been too undignified.

Thinking of this, Jing Yuan walked toward the Workshop, thinking of having 4277 use scraps to make another flying dagger.

Arriving at the Workshop, 4277 was working as usual.

After 4277's tireless work day and night, the ten flying daggers were finally completed.

4277 was currently assembling the scabbard, which was the shield-shaped scabbard Jing Yuan had designed before.

"You're here!" 4277 was now very familiar with Jing Yuan and spoke quite casually.

Jing Yuan walked over to 4277 and leaned casually against the workbench, asking, "The Lighthouse passed through a thunderstorm zone last night. Was everything okay in the Lower Citizen District?"