Chapter 34: The Convergence of Three Parties

Two heavy trucks were assigned three rotating drivers. Given the dangerous nature of this mission, the choice was likely made with caution: one young driver and two older men, all with military backgrounds and enhancement ratings of C and D. They were capable of handling firearms and engaging in combat when necessary.

Base North 1 also dispatched a security squad of five members, who identified themselves as the 1st Detachment of the Morning Star Team, 9th Regiment, North 1 Land Defense Force.

In addition to these six, Yang Yuning, who had somehow forced his way into the group, was also listed!

The moment Qi An saw him, she seemed to understand why he had looked like he wanted to call out to her when he left the day before, only to stop himself. Was it because they were destined to meet again and would be spending a long time in each other’s company?

Yang Yuning, dressed in a brand-new field combat uniform, flashed a brilliant smile at her.

Qi An looked away. This client’s obsession was lasting a bit too long.

The leader of the Morning Star 1st Team, Li Yi, was around thirty-five, tall and broad-shouldered with a half-beard—a standard rugged soldier image. As he held his tablet and performed a roll call for the members of the Chengfeng 2nd Team, the corners of his mouth remained slightly downturned, as if he found their capabilities lackluster.

There were no particularly thick-skinned individuals in the squad, and Yu Shuang could clearly feel this disapproval. If he thought they were poor, what kind of level was this Morning Star 1st Team at?

Zhuang Xiao tilted her head slightly, exchanging a meaningful glance with Qi An; the twitching of her eyes clearly conveyed that exact thought.

"For this mission, my squad is deploying five members, plus an external reinforcement from the Zhenyue Team, Yang Yuning. I am the operational commander. My enhancement rating is AB; my strength and speed are both at 8, and I specialize in assault and command. My team members, Jia Wenxuan and Ruan Xiaoyu, both have AC ratings. Ruan Xiaoyu has strong self-healing and resilience attributes, specializing in assault, while Jia Wenxuan possesses the 'night vision' ability and specializes in reconnaissance and sniping. Team member Zhou Zi has a BB rating and specializes in reconnaissance and assault; Liu Weiyun is a Purifier with a BA rating and a mental enhancement value of 8."

Li Yi, seemingly having caught Zhuang Xiao’s grimacing, recited his team's introductions in a cold tone.

Zhuang Xiao froze. Aside from Zhou Zi, whose abilities were relatively balanced—perhaps comparable to their own deputy leader—everyone else in his team averaged an 'A' rating! Was this the standard of elite teams?

It felt like a crushing disparity. Looking at their vehicles, the plating appeared bulletproof, and the cargo holds were packed to the brim. Even their bulletproof vests and assault rifles—perhaps even their tourniquets—looked newer and more advanced than theirs.

Zhuang Xiao felt a sudden sense of defeat; her chest deflated, and her head bowed slightly.

The members of the 2nd Team had no choice but to endure this condescending disapproval and quietly boarded their vehicles according to Li Yi’s arrangements.

The Morning Star 1st Team had two vehicles, taking the lead and the tail of the convoy, while the squad's three trucks were sandwiched in between, serving strictly in a support and auxiliary capacity.

They had been in a single-file line when leaving Base North 1, but after three hours of driving, they rendezvoused with three heavy trucks and two escort vehicles from Base North 2. The formation immediately expanded into a "plane" configuration. With seven escort vehicles—one at each end and two on each flank—plus a lead vehicle responsible for reconnaissance and mobility, the convoy traveled imposingly across the wasteland of early spring.

Qi An was in this special lead vehicle, with Yang Yuning at the wheel.

The power structure of this temporarily cobbled-together group was now clear: one commander, Li Yi; and two subordinate team leaders, Qin Tianshuo from the North 2 Base squad and Yu Shuang. Qin Tianshuo’s influence was clearly greater than Yu Shuang’s; for hours, Li Yi had not consulted Yu Shuang on anything, only issued orders. The Chengfeng 2nd Team, coming from a remote, minor base, sat at the very bottom of this hierarchy.

However, Yang Yuning was the exception. No matter what he said, even if Li Yi kept a cold face, he never contradicted him. When Yang Yuning suggested that he drive the crucial lead vehicle, Li Yi nodded. Then, Yang Yuning chose Qi An and Zhao Bohan to ride with him.

This move left the entire Morning Star team stunned. Yang Yuning didn’t trust his own people but chose people from a minor base to take on the heavy responsibility of reconnaissance? At that moment, the silent exchange of glances between the three factions was intense, and the atmosphere became extremely delicate.

Li Yi still did not contradict him, but he didn’t speak either. After staring at the trio in the lead vehicle, he turned and left. The pressure and distrust released by that look were infuriating, so while the rest of the team was busy venting in the squad channel, the trio in the lead vehicle was busy working.

Qi An operated the multi-functional reconnaissance drone, while Zhao Bohan clutched a tablet, studying the satellite maps. Zhao Bohan’s analytical ability remained as stable as an AI:

"There is a fork in the road ahead. We can go south or north. To the north is the path we took to get here; the highway is relatively well-preserved and easy to travel, but it passes through densely populated towns. To the south, we would pass through a scenic area that was known as 'Bailu Dian' before the apocalypse. In recent years, precipitation in this vast plain has increased, and facilities like dams have gone unmaintained for years. It is highly likely that the wetlands have expanded into the surrounding areas, and the extent of this is uncertain, so road conditions are difficult to predict."

"We must choose one of these two roads now."

Yang Yuning frowned upon hearing this. "Why does this feel like choosing between two disasters?"

When they went to Base North 1, they took the northern route. They were able to pass safely because of the drone and Qi An’s long-range reconnaissance, which allowed them to carefully avoid dangerous sections. But now, the convoy was carrying so much insect oil; traveling through a dense maze of ruined towns might attract multiple swarms of Fallen Insects. The southern route, however, presented natural threats, and one couldn't assume there would be no Fallen Insects just because it wasn't a dense urban area.

"There is no safe road for this mission," Zhao Bohan said. He organized his thoughts and reported the conclusion to Commander Li Yi.

There was silence on the other end for several minutes. It was unclear whether the choice between two evils was too difficult, or if he simply didn't trust Zhao Bohan and had decided to study the map himself.

In the gap, Yu Shuang said in the squad channel, "What's the hesitation? If it were me, I'd pick the northern route! The better the road, the faster we go. As long as we're fast enough, the Fallen Insects can't catch us!"

Zhuang Xiao and Tang Long quickly chimed in, "We support the leader!"

"I might choose the southern route..." Zhao Bohan said, his voice drifting slightly. Before Yu Shuang could scold him, he asked Qi An, "What do you think?"

"...The northern route," Qi An replied.

She was able to multitask; operating the drone while listening to the conversation was effortless for her. Compared to the sheer force of nature, she still felt that Fallen Insects were slightly easier to deal with.

Yang Yuning’s eyes shone with approval as he looked at her. He smiled and said, "I choose the northern route, too!"

Given the nature of their mission, the northern route should have been the logical choice.

Just then, Li Yi’s command came over the radio: "Take the southern route."