118: Chapter 118 A Mission More Important Than Life

Chen Xi looked at Professor Wen Yuanbo, seeing the complex light in his eyes—a mix of grief, indignation, fear, and a sliver of hope.

He knew that every word from this old man was as heavy as Mount Tai.

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he simply closed the diary embossed with the cherry blossom pattern and the heavy red sandalwood box.

Then, supporting himself against the wall, he stepped into the deepest shadows of the wine cellar.

"Professor, please wait here for a moment and do not make a sound."

His voice was very soft, but it carried an unquestionable calmness.

Wen Yuanbo didn't understand why, but he nodded nervously and shrank back into the corner.

Chen Xi closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into a cold sea of digital data.

"System, emergency communication."

"Encrypt the content I'm about to scan and send it directly to the 'Great Wall' Command Center with the highest priority."

There was no unnecessary chatter.

From the system space, he retrieved several pieces of the most shocking evidence he had just obtained.

The photograph of Toshiaki Mukai and Tsuyoshi Noda leaning on their swords, flashing bright smiles at the camera.

The passage in Sato Kenji's diary written in a boastful tone about the 'Contest to Kill 100 People'.

And that photo of an infant being hoisted up by a bayonet.

The data silently transformed into a stream of information, crossing eighty-nine years of time and space, surging toward the future.

...

Year 2026, the 'Great Wall' Project Command Center.

In just a few seconds, the atmosphere plummeted from the tension of high-efficiency operations into a dead silence.

On the massive main screen.

That black-and-white photo of the grinning faces was enlarged to its maximum.

Beside it was a real-time translation of the diary's contents; every word looked as if it were written in blood.

"...Engaged in a contest with colleagues Mukai and Noda to see who could be the first to kill one hundred people. How delightful! Such an achievement should be recorded in the annals of the Empire..."

In the entire Command Center, one could hear a pin drop.

A young intelligence analyst's face drained of color instantly, and the ceramic mug in his hand slipped and fell.

Smash!

The crisp sound of shattering was exceptionally jarring in this dead silence.

But no one looked at him.

Everyone's eyes were fixed firmly on the screen.

In the historical verification group's area, an elderly expert gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white.

Another expert abruptly tore off his reading glasses and wiped his eyes hard with the back of his hand, but cloudy tears still rolled uncontrollably down his wrinkled cheeks.

Rage.

Sorrow.

At this moment, these emotions seemed far too pale.

It was a massive pain and suffocation, as if their souls had been crushed head-on by the boulders of history.

"Connect..."

The head of the history group, Elder Qian—a white-haired titan who had spent his entire life studying modern history—muttered in a voice that was almost a sleep-talk.

"Director Long... I request... a private line to 'Ghost'..."

His voice was trembling.

Elder Long, standing before the command console, did not turn around.

He just stared at the screen, silent for a few seconds.

Then, in an equally hoarse voice, he issued the command.

"Authorized."

The next second.

In Chen Xi's consciousness, an unfamiliar, aged voice rang out, accompanied by heavy gasping and suppressed sobs.

"Child... child... I am Qian Weiguo, from the history group..."

"I saw it... we all saw it..."

The old man seemed unable to continue, his words interrupted by a fit of violent coughing and sobbing.

"I beg you..."

Using all his strength, he let out a roar that was almost a plea.

"You must... bring them back, completely intact!"

"Those are evidence! Irrefutable evidence! They are the ironclad proof that will make those bastards who deny history kneel forever before the three hundred thousand lost souls!"

"Child... they are more important than our lives!"

The old man's voice stopped abruptly.

In the communication channel, only his uncontrollable, painful, and utterly suppressed crying remained.

This crying was like a rusty, blunt knife, sawing back and forth across Chen Xi's nerves.

Elder Long slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, all emotion had vanished, replaced by a steel-like coldness.

He turned to face everyone in the Command Center.

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every corner clearly.

"Pass down my order."

"Effective immediately, activate the 'Great Wall' Project's Emergency Protocol No. 1."

"Operation Codename: 'Phoenix'."

"Core Objective: Recover all key historical evidence regarding the Japanese Army's atrocities in Nanjing at all costs."

"Repeat: at all costs."

The cold command instantly solidified the nearly out-of-control grief and indignation in the Command Center.

Then, it transformed into an even colder, more resolute, steel-like will to execute.

On Chen Xi's retina.

A blood-red pop-up window with a flame icon suddenly jumped out.

[!!! Highest Priority Directive Issued !!!]

[Operation Codename: Phoenix]

[Mission Objective: Collect and recover all physical evidence related to the Nanjing Massacre (photos, film, diaries, documents, etc.)]

His original mission list, the Jinling Spark Project, was ruthlessly pushed to the second spot by this new mission.

That blood-red light representing 'Highest Priority' made his eyes ache slightly.

Elder Long's steady, emotionless voice rang out again.

"Ghost."

"You've seen it. From now on, 'Operation Phoenix' is your primary mission."

"Saving people is guarding the present."

"But this evidence will guard our past and our nation's future."

"Its weight exceeds everything."

"Do you understand?"

In the shadows of the wine cellar.

Chen Xi slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at the wooden box in his hand, which contained a century of a nation's pain.

He turned back and glanced at the old man in the corner, who was looking at him with expectant eyes.

In his heart, he answered Elder Long with two words.

"I understand."

[I get it! I fucking get it now! Killing them all is satisfying, but bringing these back is a judgment! It's a judgment that will make their descendants unable to hold their heads up for generations!]

[Yes! Saving people is a tactical mission, but this is a fucking strategic mission! Master Xi! Do it! We support you!]

[Phoenix... the Phoenix nirvana, reborn from the ashes... Good! This codename is great!]

[From now on, Master Xi isn't just a Soldier King; he is the guardian of our history! He is the sword-bearer of the truth!]

The bullet chat in the Livestream room, after a brief period of silence and grief, also reached a new height of rationality, yet even greater fury.

Chen Xi closed the communication channel.

He carefully put the red sandalwood box and the diary all into his system space.

To make room, he even discarded some spare ammunition and medical supplies.

At this moment, the priority of this evidence was higher than anything else.

He turned and walked back in front of Professor Wen Yuanbo.

His gaze was calm and cold.

But beneath that coldness was an unprecedented, determined light.

"Professor."

"You were right."

"Our mission has only just begun."