Shouldn’t he be barricaded inside a sturdy iron shell, waiting for me to pry open the can?

Why would these timid guys dare to take the initiative to attack?

And why are they so strong?

If they’re this strong, why are they still hauling that cumbersome train?

...

Questions popped up one by one in Longyan’s mind, and even with the facts right before him, he found it hard to accept.

Those who use robust vehicles are weak!

This was his perception; changing it would be as difficult as mentally killing off his past self.

"What’s going on here?"

Su Huan asked.

Qu Hang, the highest-ranking officer present, stepped forward to report, "A convoy coming from the eleven o’clock direction attacked us during routine interrogation. There were 127 people, 6 dead, all others captured, and no casualties on our side."

"Local forces... East City Association?"

Su Huan speculated offhandedly.

A short and sturdy man came running from behind. Due to a lack of vehicles, the attack tonight had to be on foot. Initially, Jiao Ting and the Iron Wolf Corps’ guide had some confidence, but things felt off once they started running.

Each soldier carried backpacks weighing dozens of kilograms, yet they ran like little four-wheeled cars without even breaking a sweat.

Even he, a dignified Tier One Evolver, was left behind.

These people were no humans, but five hundred nuclear-powered donkeys!

The battle was over by the time he managed to catch up with the group.

Hearing Su Huan’s voice, Jiao Ting looked up dumbfounded and immediately spotted Longyan’s triangular eyes, exclaiming in surprise, "Longyan?!"

Longyan losing to the Armed Corps didn’t surprise him; what shocked him was why the other side appeared here.

"You know him?"

Su Huan asked casually.

Jiao Ting nodded while gasping for breath, his tone filled with hatred, "The second-in-command of East City Association, infamous for his treachery. He wiped out three camps near Guiyan, sparing neither the old nor the young—just a beast."

Su Huan detected the emotion in his voice. The East City Association evidently held a grudge against their Iron Wolf Corps, as they were the only two minor factions within dozens of kilometers.

"Ask if they know about those who fell back."

Su Huan instructed.

He didn’t wholly trust Jiao Ting. While speaking, he extended his senses towards the eleven o’clock direction, soon detecting a dense energy source a little over five kilometers away. Based on the feedback from the energy waves, he pinpointed the East City Association’s location.

It slightly deviated from Jiao Ting’s indicated position, probably due to gravitational shifts, not a significant error.

More interestingly, someone seemed to detect his probe several kilometers away and quickly fled.

Two interrogation experts brought Longyan out directly, causing pain that twisted Longyan’s face. Only then did he spot the late-arriving Jiao Ting, and his mind raced, realizing his own doom. His triangular eyes filled with ferocity as he threateningly sneered, "Jiao Ting, if you dare to kill me, your Iron Wolf Corps will perish!"

Jiao Ting’s face turned ashen, seeing Longyan being hauled away. He stepped forward, saying in a low voice, "Conductor, you can’t kill him just yet."

"Next time, finish your sentence."

Su Huan cast him a glance; a faintly revealed aura made Jiao Ting’s blood nearly freeze.

He called the two soldiers back, and although Longyan seemed eager to keep yelling, one soldier’s poke to his ribs silenced him.

Jiao Ting took a deep breath, speaking bitterly, "Though Longyan is treacherous, he’s actually the weakest in terms of combat in the East City Association. The formidable ones are their head Wei Dong and the Dragon Head..."

"A Tier One, right?"

Su Huan interrupted, on the floating land a Tier One was barely acceptable based on energy fluctuations. Still, it was only slightly stronger than Jiao Ting in front of him, and even if their skills were unique, combined with another unknown Tier One, they couldn’t kill him if he stood still for them to attack.

"Yes."

"You don’t think I can handle those two, do you?"

Su Huan was slightly disappointed internally.

He understood Jiao Ting’s fear of East City Association’s retaliation, but he hoped Jiao Ting wouldn’t waste his time equivocating over this kind of thing.

"East City Association might be fierce, but it’s just a vicious dog. The real trouble is the force behind them."

Jiao Ting said apprehensively.

’The force behind them?’

Su Huan was slightly surprised, instinctively recalling the name Deep Blue Data.

Since entering the Gravity Zone, the train’s had several run-ins with Deep Blue Data, each time obscured and mysterious. They hadn’t figured out how many resources and men Deep Blue Data had.

If the East City Association were backed by Deep Blue Data, the retreating force would become very suspicious.

Initially, he was about 70-80% sure they were Gunfire’s force, but what if it was Deep Blue Data in disguise?

If he held back slightly, and they ambushed him from the rear, although they couldn’t kill him, an unexpected attack in the unarmed wilderness would cause severe losses to the newly-formed corps.

Longyan, seeing Su Huan’s silence, breathed a sigh of relief and displayed a hint of smugness on his face, "Even if our East City Association is a dog, you should see whose dog we are before daring to strike?"

Su Huan squinted slightly, "Do you know what that force is called?"

Before Jiao Ting could speak, Longyan elongated his sharp voice,

"Donghuang Heavy Industry!"

The atmosphere suddenly fell into an eerie suspension.

Qu Hang and other officers glanced at the conductor, then at the smug-faced Longyan with a meaningful gaze.

Jiao Ting nodded somberly, "Yes, that force. We don’t know their origin, but they’re indeed the biggest force around. They ended the initial chaos and provided us with some basic Evolver information. To be honest, we who ascended to Tier One have all benefited from Donghuang Heavy Industry."