The Third Rebirth (REBIRTH)
"That's the situation."
In the brightly lit conference room, Ling Chen was draped in a black combat uniform jacket and wearing a military green training shirt underneath with his sleeves rolled up, revealing white bandages. He sat in a high-backed chair and briefly recounted the events.
Jian Yun, dressed in a crisp uniform, had a coarse porcelain mug in front of him that was still emitting a faint warmth. He asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Ling Chen rubbed his fingers together and spoke in a deep voice, "First, if what Shitou said is true, then the Holy Judgement has already approached our vicinity without us noticing.
Second, the fact that the Holy Judgement's people could reach the vicinity of the temporary base is no coincidence. They must have learned the approximate location of the temporary base through some channel.
Third, there are undoubtedly many spies from the Holy Judgement or the military within the temporary base. Their presence means our location, plans, and so on are exposed to the enemy like an open fish belly."
Human nature is a delicate thing, and Ling Chen has never trusted so-called human nature. Moreover, those who followed Jian Zhongshan and Jian Yun in defecting from the military district were not thoroughly vetted. It's entirely normal for there to be World Haters and spies among them.
Jian Zhongshan was absent due to illness, making Jian Yun the highest-ranking officer present. He was well aware that since the establishment of the temporary base a month ago, they had been too busy to conduct any thorough investigations. Sensing something from Ling Chen's words, Jian Yun asked, "What are your thoughts?"
"I do have an idea." Ling Chen said directly. "We should take this opportunity to clean out the little bugs within our ranks while catching as many as we can."
Jian Yun understood his meaning—using the pre-battle period to eliminate enemy spies, and later reporting them as casualties to avoid causing panic.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Alright, proceed as you see fit."
Bai Hengyun, seeing that they had finished speaking, put down her coffee cup. The bottom of the cup made a soft "tap" as it hit the table.
As the attention of everyone in the room turned to her, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Everyone, on behalf of the research department, I would like to know the likelihood of a long-range strike this time. Although the temporary base's protective network has been established, it is still in the improvement phase and has weak resistance to long-range attacks."
Jian Yun replied, "The probability of a precise long-range strike is low. First, the Holy Judgement lacks the necessary military equipment. Second, the Regional Core is still in our hands. If they choose to launch a long-range strike on the temporary base, they might end up destroying the Regional Core as well, which would be a loss for them. They wouldn't dare take that risk."
Ling Chen agreed, "I share the same view. The Holy Judgement is more likely to opt for a night raid, but we cannot rule out the possibility that after seizing the Regional Core, they might use the precise coordinates of the temporary base to carry out a long-range precision strike." After speaking, he looked at Jian Yun, "Of course, the Holy Judgement lacks the military equipment for long-range strikes, but its collaborators certainly do not."
The lines at the corners of Jian Yun's mouth deepened.
Bai Hengyun felt reassured and circled her fingers around the coffee cup. "By the way, we have two new weapons from the research department. Take them and test their effectiveness. Remember to submit a report of over ten thousand words so we can make improvements as soon as possible."
The meeting room fell into silence.
Bai Hengyun asked, "The latest weapon in exchange for a ten-thousand-word trial report—not a bad deal, right?" After saying this, she walked out of the meeting room with her empty coffee cup, leaving only the hem of her white robe in everyone's sight.
Jiang Cancan grimaced and whispered to Jian Lan, "I'd rather run ten thousand meters than write a ten-thousand-word trial report!"
His words resonated with everyone present.
Jian Yun maintained a stern expression as his sharp eyes scanned the room. "I plan to appoint Ling Chen as the Grand Commander for this operation. If anyone has objections, speak up now."
No one opposed.
"Then it's settled—Ling Chen it is." Jian Yun's hawk-like gaze fixed on Ling Chen with each word heavy with meaning. "This operation must succeed. Failure is not an option."
This was the first formal defense battle they would face since establishing their temporary base. If they lost, morale would undoubtedly waver.
Ling Chen understood the stakes.
He pressed his fingers together as the tip of his middle finger touched the corner of his eyebrow. The sharp lines of his face made him resemble an unsheathed sword. "Understood!"
After the meeting, Ling Chen held Ye Xiao's hand, tucking it into the pocket of his combat uniform jacket and occasionally giving it a gentle squeeze. The long corridor leading to the control room was empty, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing.
The overhead lights were glaringly bright. Outside the blast-proof glass was the pitch-black night, and staring at it for too long evoked a sense of unease.
Jiang Cancan followed behind Ling Chen, curious. "Chen Ge, how do you plan to catch the mole inside?"
Ling Chen smirked. "Simple. In a moment, I'll issue an order to everyone to drill in the latter half of the night. If I were the mole, I'd definitely report this unusual activity to Holy Judgement or the military district. At that point, we'll activate the Signal Shielding Network in advance and intercept the messages. By tracing the senders, we'll find them."
The heavy military boots made crisp, rhythmic sounds on the polished marble floor. "However, there's a drawback. This method can only identify moles who actively communicate with Holy Judgement or the military district. It won't catch those who use single-line contacts. But for now, it's sufficient."
Ten minutes later, after Ling Chen issued the order in the control room for everyone to prepare for the impromptu drill in the latter half of the night, the activated Signal Shielding Network quickly intercepted seven outgoing messages. The content was roughly the same, mostly reporting the sudden drill. One message even added that Ling Chen and the others had held an emergency meeting.
Jiang Mu's fingers flew across the keyboard that quickly pinpointed the senders' locations. "Found them."
"Good, send the information to Cheetah."
The members of Cheetah, who had been dispersed and awaiting orders, quickly disappeared into the night upon receiving the location data.
Another ten minutes passed, and one by one, "Capture complete" responses gathered in Ling Chen's hands. He ordered, "Keep them separated for now. We'll talk to them afterward and see if we can dig up more information."
Qin Ling, the Captain of Cheetah, acknowledged the order.
In the control room, the three-dimensional radar map emitted a steady "beep" every three seconds as the red light swept across, indicating no abnormalities.
The sound was oddly hypnotic.
Ling Chen pinched the bridge of his nose and thought of grabbing a coffee to wake himself up, but Ye Xiao stopped him immediately.
"The doctor said you can't drink coffee right now."
Meeting Ye Xiao's gaze, Ling Chen immediately raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to our Little Fuzzball, no coffee, no coffee." He then reached out and pulled Ye Xiao into his arms, holding him for a few seconds, then took a deep breath at the side of his neck—sure enough, he was excited.
Seeing Ling Chen suddenly hug him, Ye Xiao grew concerned, "Captain, are you feeling unwell?" He frowned and hesitated for a couple of seconds, "If you really want to drink coffee, just one sip, no, two sips... fine, three sips are okay too. We'll keep it a secret and not tell the doctor."
"You'll keep it a secret for me?"
"Mm, I'll keep it a secret."
Ling Chen was amused. He restrained himself and nuzzled Ye Xiao's hair with his chin, "How is my Little Fuzzball so obedient!"
By 11:30 PM, Ling Chen estimated it was time to start the operation. "Jiang Mu will stay with me in the command center. Jiang Cancan and Jian Lan will lead the Second Division's reserve team. Qin Ling will take the Cheetah team. You all have over a hundred people, so play it by ear, got it?"
Jiang Cancan and Jian Lan were used to Ling Chen's style and responded with a quick acknowledgment before heading out. Qin Ling, however, who had only collaborated with Ling Chen on missions before, was a bit surprised, "Play... play it by ear?"
"Yes, play it by ear." Ling Chen then explained his words, "Go wherever you're needed, a mobile team, understand?"
"Understood!"
After Qin Ling left, Ling Chen walked over to the command console and stood firmly before activating the internal base channel.
He spoke in a deep voice, "This is Ling Chen, the Grand Commander of this operation. We've just received intelligence that the base is about to face an enemy attack. Therefore, this operation will shift from a strategic exercise to an actual defensive battle. Now, please cooperate with the test to check if the communication systems are functioning properly."
Soon, countless flashing dots appeared on the base's defense map on the screen. Jiang Mu glanced at the data in the bottom right corner of the screen, "The communication rate is 100%, no issues."
"Good." Ling Chen adjusted the black combat uniform jacket draped over his shoulders and efficiently arranged the logistics and defense.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.
Taking advantage of his position as the commander and no one to oversee him, Ling Chen sat next to Ye Xiao to slack off and relax as he watched him disassemble a handgun.
Compared to their time in D Zone, Ye Xiao's technique in disassembling and reassembling the gun had become much more proficient. He habitually handed the reassembled gun to Ling Chen for inspection while observing his expression, "Are you tired?"
Ling Chen naturally softened his voice, "Not tired. Cancan and Jian Lan can relay the situation on the ground, Xiao Mu can provide battlefield data analysis. I just need to make decisions, nothing to be tired about."
Ye Xiao, assured that Ling Chen wasn't lying, felt relieved. He yawned and sleepily said, "Brother, I'm sleepy."
‘Tsk, why did I teach Little Fuzzball to call me brother?’
Every time he hears this title, Ling Chen's heart trembles a bit, feeling both tender and unbearably itchy.
Taking off the black combat uniform jacket from his shoulders, he wrapped it around Ye Xiao, then pinched his nose, "Aren't you nervous at all?"
Ye Xiao, with sleep in his eyes and damp eyelashes, also poked Ling Chen's nose with his finger, affirming, "Ling Zihui will definitely win."
Ling Chen held his finger and bit it lightly at his lips, "Thanks to Little Fuzzball's auspicious words." After saying that, he found a pair of headphones and put them on Ye Xiao, "Be good, sleep well."
The Holy Judgement arrived earlier than expected.
Just past 4 a.m., the technician urgently reported, "A large number of thermal weapons have been detected simultaneously in the forests to the southeast and southwest."
His eyes revealed barely contained excitement. "Just as Professor Bai and the others predicted, the enemy has activated signal jamming to avoid our radar detection and approach silently. Fortunately, we’ve deployed the newly developed radar surveillance system, which directly pierced through their camouflage."
"Mm," Ling Chen asked Jiang Cancan through the communicator, "How’s it going?"
"The turrets on the top floor of the control room, the machine gun units on the protective net, and the mortar units are all fine. One of the turrets in the inner group has malfunctioned and is being repaired. It’s expected to take five more minutes. The second inner group has been checked and is clear."
"Jian Lan, report your status."
"The bomb belt has been laid. It’s fresh out of the research lab and still warm. Professor Ling specifically instructed me to record the explosion intensity of the bombs," Jian Lan’s voice remained as relaxed as ever. "I didn’t hold back when laying them. It’s enough to give Holy Judgement a hard time!"
Ling Chen stared at the red dots on the display screen that were steadily approaching. "Mm, once it’s laid, pull your team back."
Jian Lan responded with an "Aye!" and said, "Heading back now!"
The early August morning had shed some of its sweltering heat and was replaced by a slight chill.
The incessant chirping of insects filled the air, and the night was dark enough to conceal everything.
Ling Chen watched as the red dots representing the Holy Judgement forces moved in an almost straight line and chuckled. "How arrogant. They don’t take this base seriously at all."
Jiang Mu’s gaze also fell on the screen. "Four a.m. is when people are in their deepest sleep. They’re relying on their signal jamming devices, so they’re probably still smug and thinking we haven’t detected them yet."
"They must have some misunderstanding about their own capabilities," Ling Chen remarked.
Once he confirmed that the Holy Judgement’s armored vehicles had entered the pre-laid bomb belt, he ordered Jian Lan, "Show them a magic trick. Broaden their horizons."
Jian Lan responded with a laugh, "Watch me perform!"
Three seconds later, the surveillance screen suddenly lit up as bright as day.
"Boom—boom—boom!"
A series of muffled explosions rang out. Rows of armored vehicles, along with the surrounding rocks, soil, and trees, were blown to pieces.
Jian Lan’s voice came through the earpiece, "...Holy shit, the armored vehicles are blown to bits? What the hell kind of bombs are these? The legendary power of science? I’m sincerely kneeling to the big shots in the research lab!"
While Ling Chen’s side was stunned by the terrifying power of the new bombs, the Holy Judgement was even more bewildered.
Five armored vehicles, along with the people and weapons inside, were completely destroyed. Most importantly, they realized that if the explosion wasn’t part of the base’s regular ambush, they might have already been discovered.
Jiang Mu said, "They’ve stopped. They’ll probably change their strategy."
Ling Chen tossed the bronze-colored bullet in his hand. "They don’t have time for a meeting." He issued another command, "Jian Lan, blow up the armored vehicles to the southeast too. Destroy their weapon stockpile directly."
"Roger that!"
Another "Boom—" followed and shaking the glass windows.
On the communication channel, Qin Ling couldn’t help but exclaim, "From now on, I’ll volunteer to run errands for the big shots in the research lab. With just a few bombs, how many of my brothers have been spared!"
After a brief period of chaos, Holy Judgement adjusted their formation.
Uncertain if there were more bomb belts ahead, the reconnaissance vehicle took the lead to detonate any potential threats.
Jian Lan crouched on the rooftop, lowering her night vision binoculars. "Tsk, what a pity. I only laid down two bomb belts. With this kind of power, forget a ten-thousand-word trial report—if they don’t mind my messy handwriting, I’d happily write a hundred thousand words!"
She leaned on her gray heavy sniper rifle and grinned at the two reserve team members standing behind her. "Brothers, remember to show some respect when you see the big shots from the research lab in the cafeteria!"
A young, dark-skinned team member chuckled, "I’ve been at the temporary base for so long, and I’ve never seen anyone other than Professor Bai in the cafeteria—"
At that moment, a familiar sense of danger made the hairs on Jian Lan’s body stand on end. Acting purely on instinct, she lunged forward to pin the young man beneath her and shouting sharply, "Get down! Sniper!"
With a sharp "crack," a bullet whistled through the air and embedded itself into the wall.
"Damn their ancestors!" Jian Lan scrambled up and crouched low, like an enraged lioness, muttering under her breath, "Playing sniper in front of me? Trying to take out my people from a distance?"
While cursing, she set up a tripod and mounted her gray heavy sniper rifle on it. Despite her anger, her hands were steady as a rock.
In a series of fluid movements, she had her finger on the trigger in less than thirty seconds.
With the light brown night vision goggles perched on her nose, Jian Lan spoke into her earpiece, "Xiao Mu, record this for me. Capture the moment!"
Jiang Mu replied, "Got it."
Through the scope, Jian Lan focused on the direction the bullet had come from.
Watching the swaying leaves, she slowed her breathing. The dry palm of her hand against the cold metal of the rifle helped her focus to the extreme.
Finally, in the gap between the leaves, a flash of camouflage appeared. Jian Lan pulled the trigger with precision.
With a loud "bang", the bullet pierced through the air, heading straight for its target.
Almost as if she could hear the "thud" of the bullet hitting flesh, Jian Lan stayed in position and announced, "Enemy sniper successfully eliminated."
Meanwhile, Ye Xiao suddenly woke up. Wrapped in Ling Chen’s combat uniform jacket, he looked dazedly at Ling Chen’s back as he stood in front of the control panel. Noah’s voice echoed in his ear, "Sorry to disturb your sleep."
Ye Xiao shook his head while gripping the collar of the jacket, and replied in his mind, "It’s fine. Is there a mission?"
"Yes, a Gene-Fused Human codenamed Haidao has breached the temporary base and is steadily approaching the research lab."
Ye Xiao’s pupils constricted. "A Slit-Eyed Person?"
"Yes," Noah continued. "Mission objective: eliminate the Slit-Eyed Person within thirty minutes."
Ye Xiao took off his headphones and stood up with his two strands of black hair sticking up. He grabbed his long blade and said, "Alright, I’ll head over right away."
He walked up behind Ling Chen and gently tugged on his clothes.
Ling Chen turned around, and the fierce killing intent in his eyes instantly softened into a gentle smile. "Little Fuzzball, you’re awake?"
"Yeah, I’m awake." Ye Xiao tilted his head up and whispered into Ling Chen’s ear, "A Slit-Eyed Person is getting close to the research lab. I need to go."
After listening, Ling Chen didn't say anything.
After a moment of silence, he took Ye Xiao's right hand and quickly kissed the back of it. Then, with his head lowered, he meticulously adjusted the bandage on Ye Xiao's right wrist and finally tied it into a bow. He instructed, "Be careful not to get hurt. If you manage that, you can have any reward you want."
"Okay."
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