Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 331 - 57 Prelude Choice

Chapter 331: Chapter 57 Prelude: Choice

Chapter 331: Chapter 57 Prelude: Choice

The next day, the fury of war resounded.

The Black Star combat vehicles, which had been silenced for two weeks, vented their frustration from not being able to use thermal weapons for so long. A variety of new bombs joyously exploded upon the defensive fortifications of the living dead, continuing to roar from dusk until the early morning of the following day.

The Black Star combat vehicles even deployed dozens of fourth-order bombers, along with long-range tactical missiles, to carpet-bomb Great Demon Lake in a cleansing baptism by fire!

On that day, plumes of black mushroom clouds rose from the perennially frozen surface of Great Demon Lake. Then, multicolored clouds of radiation enveloped the mountains and wilderness for over a month without dispersing.

Thereafter, the Sixth Army’s combat department led by Liang Zhengyong reported that the Black Star combat vehicles had completely wiped out the remaining forces of the Medicine Buddha holed up around Great Demon Lake and had killed the stubbornly resisting Ramu Jue and his group during the battle.

This demonstration of war came to a conclusion. The formidable strength of the Sixth Army and the decisiveness and talent of Liang Zhengyong once again became the center of attention.

However, the Medicine Buddha followers, whom the Fourteenth Army of Black Star combat vehicles had easily crushed and who had forced Liang Zhengyong to request exceptional core forces from the committee three times, bombing their defensive fortifications to smithereens before exterminating them, began to enter the scope of some ambitious individuals.

This also led to an episode. In Zone B, where “Medicine Buddha” had been gradually quieting down, far from ceasing activity with the death of their leader, they became even more active. Heads of various violent organizations sprouted up like mushrooms after rain throughout Zone B. Their identities were unclear, each claiming to bear the mission to restore the Medicine Buddha, with conflicts and unrest seeming to never stop.

During this time, Liang Zhengyong personally sent a telegram to the Big Ben Research Institute. Liang claimed that the Sixth Army’s researchers had discovered a large number of precious samples amid the ruins of Great Demon Lake and had seized years worth of Ramu Jue’s underground research data, allowing the Black Star combat vehicles to take a crucial step forward in the development of fifth-stage ability potions. Black Star combat vehicles invited the institute’s management to participate in the development of related potions.

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After sending some fragmentary data, the Big Ben Research Institute happily agreed and scheduled their routine meeting at Shuishu Park for one month later…

…

“Ka-ka.”

Liang Wei struck the lighter twice, but it failed to ignite.

“Bang!”

He slammed his fist onto the steering wheel, and finally the car ignited.

“Thrilling, huh.”

He let out a cryptic sigh.

Deep inside the seemingly reckless Liang Wei, his father Liang Zhengyong stood like an insurmountable mountain.

To outsiders, the Liang surname was that of a rising political family, but only Liang Wei knew there was no such thing as the Liang surname. Every extension into biological research, equipment, and combat planning within the family had come solely from Liang Zhengyong, who started as a private.

The Fourteenth Army had been decimated by Medicine Buddha, and Qiao Xing’s father’s mismanagement in combat was simply a matter of handing over military power. It wouldn’t take many years for the Fourteenth Army to fall into the hands of Qiao Xing or another member of the Qiao family. In any case, it would not be severely damaging.

But the Liang’s situation was different. If it were Liang Zhengyong who failed in battle, the Liang name would collapse outright.

Liang Zhengyong was the most miraculous figure in the forty-year history of the Black Star combat vehicles, a prodigy of his era.

Keep in mind, the Qiao’s, Lin’s, Qi’s, and others had the surnames of the original founders of the Black Star combat vehicles. The Qi Commissioner, whom Liang Zhengyong revered as a teacher, was a founding member of the Black Star combat vehicles, a living fossil.

Liang Wei often wondered just how extraordinary his father must have been to single-handedly establish a new and powerful Liang name within the highly discriminatory and hierarchical Black Star combat vehicles.

But at today’s negotiation table, a religious leader from a remote area managed to consistently push his father into a corner, leaving him gasping for air.

“Shuishu Park? Return everything as is?”

Liang Wei curled his lip, “You really are a messianic saint, Ramu Jue…”

Just as Ramu Jue knew some secrets that even the three major powers were unaware of.

The information that Liang Wei had learned made him quite certain that things would not develop in the direction Ramu Jue imagined.

He glanced around and suddenly spotted Qiao Xing not far off, clutching a communicator, his face so dark it seemed it could drip water.

“Find this person for me, by all means.”

Liang Wei didn’t hear it very clearly, but that didn’t stop him from driving the armored vehicle over to Qiao Xing and whistling at him.

“Let it be for now, notify me if there’s any news.”

Qiao Xing ended the call, frowning at Liang Wei, “What is it?”

Liang Wei grinned, “You looked in a hurry. Who are you looking for?”

“Just some personal matters.”

Qiao Xing clearly did not want to elaborate.

“How much do you believe in what Ramu Jue said?”

“Determining who the enemy is, that’s Commander Liang’s job. How to strike the enemy, that’s where my work begins.”

Liang Wei exaggeratedly raised his thumb, “No wonder the old men on the committee like you so much. Who wouldn’t like a young man who speaks so well?”

He looked ahead, unusually not pressing Qiao Xing further, “Enjoy your time off.”

The armored vehicle sped off.

On the vehicle, Liang Wei also picked up a compact communicator.

“What can I do for you?”

The other party didn’t even ask for Liang Wei’s identity.

“About that last thing, the one I asked you to check on, Li Yan, how is it going?”

He believed that Qiao Xing and he had come to the same conclusion.

That Wilderness Hunter might have a problem.

“I was just about to tell you, just two hours ago, a silver motorcycle with black stripes broke through our blockade. The speed of that motorcycle was simply too fast! We had no flying equipment to track it. The person on the motorcycle could have been that Li Yan.”

“Where did he go?”

“I don’t know; he shook us off.”

“…Never mind. If he doesn’t want to cause trouble, there’s no need to provoke him.”

Liang Wei put down the communicator and squinted his eyes.

…

“You just let him go?”

Qiao Xing had a complex expression on his face.

Just back from the research institute, Fa Fu, weary from her journey, took off her white lab coat. As she opened a medical kit to change Qiao Xing’s dressing, she responded, “What else could I do?”

With his upper body bare, Qiao Xing grit his teeth, “Did he ever give any hint as to where he was going?”

Afafu’s eyes darkened—a sign to Qiao Xing that his wife indeed knew something.

Qiao Xing spoke earnestly, “Afafu, I’m not joking with you. I must know Li Yan’s whereabouts. Even if you don’t tell me, the soldiers at the border blockade will definitely find him.”

Afafu let out a soft sigh, “The way you’re talking to me sounds like you’re interrogating a prisoner.”

Qiao Xing was taken aback, “No, that’s not what I mean.”

“I took part in a military meeting a few days ago. I know you are searching for people related to Yak’s genetic clues, but hasn’t Great Demon Lake already been taken down? I was notified that next month several eminences from the Big Ben Research Institute will be here to discuss Shuishu Park matters. Why is the military still so insistent on this issue?”

“That’s classified information. I’m just asking you, where did Li Yan go?”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know. He left after saying goodbye to me.”

“You’re lying to me.”

Qiao Xing’s face turned fierce.

“I’ve already told you I don’t know; what more do you want from me?”

Afafu’s voice was weary.

“Don’t play dumb with me! Li Yan’s whereabouts could even be inquired about by Commander Liang. If this matter implicates you, when the internal affairs department comes asking questions, what am I supposed to do?”

Qiao Xing’s voice unintentionally grew louder.

At that moment, Afafu had just finished changing Qiao Xing’s dressing. She slowly stood up, then suddenly turned her head, “You threaten me with Commissioner Liang, fine. Let the Interior Ministry come for me. I am a first-level researcher certified by the Great Clock. If you want to interrogate me, according to the regulations, five research fellows from the Great Clock’s headquarters must be present. Have the Interior Ministry send a telegram to the Great Clock; I’ll wait for them.”

Off to the side, the sleeping Luo Bu was awakened by the noise. He stretched out his little hand to rub his eyes and looked around.

Qiao Xing, trying to hold back his anger, closed the door before turning back to Afafu and growled, “This is completely unreasonable!”

“Think whatever you want, I’m going to rest if there’s nothing else.”

Afafu lowered her head, holding Luo Bu as she walked toward the bedroom.

Qiao Xing called out to stop her, “Afafu.”

With her back to Qiao Xing, Afafu stopped in her tracks, “What else is there?”

Qiao Xing licked his chapped lips, cleared his throat with a low cough, and after a while, he gently asked, “Were you unhappy at the research institute today?”

With her back turned, Afafu pursed her lips and remained silent.

“Those gossipy women in the office are a pain. Don’t mind them. If you don’t want to stay here any longer, I’ll have them kicked out tomorrow.”

Qiao Xing cursed and took two steps forward, gently taking Afafu’s hand.

“…”

“I’ll contact a friend to transfer you after a while. Afafu, I’ve never had any wild thoughts. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

After a while, Afafu finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “If you truly hadn’t had any wild thoughts, you wouldn’t have spoken to me like that just now. Since I’ve known you, you’ve never spoken to me that way.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been on the frontlines for too long; I might be a bit irritable. If you didn’t know, forget it. I’ll figure out another way.”

Qiao Xing’s palm was warm, his voice lowered, “You should sleep for a bit. Shall I make dinner tonight?”

Having said that, he headed toward the kitchen.

Afafu’s throat felt choked up, and after a while, she said, “I might be a bit… I’ve been unable to control my emotions lately.”

She hesitated for a moment, “Li Yan, he…”

Turning to open the fridge, Qiao Xing’s eyes suddenly shot up.

“He should have gone to a manor in the western hills, over three hundred kilometers from here. He went to look for someone named Yu Shu, a shareholder of Yunhai Pharmaceuticals. Judging by his tone, he probably doesn’t want to come back. But he left with Black Star’s communication device, and with directional search, he should be reachable.”

Qiao Xing squinted, grabbed a piece of frozen meat and turned around, smiling, “Enough of that, go get some rest.”

Afafu nodded slightly and then entered the bedroom.

Qiao Xing strode into the kitchen, placed the bright red frozen meat on the chopping board, and stared at it for a while. His fingers picked up the kitchen knife.

Thud!

A bald man with tattoos covering his back collapsed to the ground, revealing Li Yan behind him.

The sound of whistling and the flickering fluorescence mingled around.

Li Yan drained a glass of dark beer and looked down at the fallen bald man, “Looks like it’s your round to pay.”

This was a dingy, chaotic, and degenerate bar, filled with the smell of alcohol, sweat, and disinfectant. In a dim corner, pale-faced women sat around, numbly staring at every passerby until a man stopped and crooked his finger. The women would then stand up and leave with the man.

Someone filled a discarded syringe from a Genetic Potion with saline and injected it into the thigh. The leftover drug residue no longer had any enhancement effect but could excite the body, and it was less harmful than chrome paint.

It wasn’t long before the unconscious bald man was dragged away, and a hunchbacked man, as deformed as a monkey, squeezed out of the crowd and took a seat next to Li Yan.

“New here? Who are you looking for?”

“Yunhai Pharmaceuticals, I have a deal to make with them.”

The hunchbacked monkey examined Li Yan, “Third order?”

Li Yan smiled but said nothing.

“A thousand bucks, and I’ll introduce you to ‘Yunhai Pharmaceuticals” local agent,” he said.

“You take me to meet that agent, and he will pay the thousand bucks.”

“Pfft~”

The hunchbacked monkey sneered, and Li Yan lowered his head, his gaze landing on the man’s face like a painfully sharp knife.

“…”

The hunchbacked monkey jumped down from the chair, puffing his cheeks: “If you’re playing me, you’re going to see how tough Death Miller is. Follow me.”

He led Li Yan out of the tavern, hopped into a beaten-up car, and jerked his chin at Li Yan.

Li Yan eyed the car, exhaled without a word, pulled a piece of leather from the seat, wiped the green unidentifiable grime off, ducked his head, and slid in, squeezing his legs together to avoid touching anything.

The car rattled through several alleys before finally stopping in front of a fairly tidy three-story building.

The hunchbacked monkey and Li Yan walked to the door.

A few suit-clad men with machine guns gave the hunchbacked monkey a disgusted look but said nothing; they pressed a few numbers on a keypad beside them, the door slowly opened, and the two walked in, one after the other.

Inside the building were plenty of armed guards, but there was no standard uniform among them; they were dressed in all sorts, with only a complicated pattern of red and green intertwined like a flower on their chests.

Yunhai Pharmaceuticals.

The hunchbacked monkey did not greet anyone as he went straight to the innermost room, where a man in a beige suit was slouching on a sofa, with a magazine covering his face, and the cover girl’s honey-colored butt was eye-catching.

The man in the suit removed the magazine from his face at the sound and looked at the hunchbacked monkey as he walked in.

“What’s the matter?”

Before the hunchbacked monkey could speak, Li Yan produced a Barrett sniper rifle out of nowhere, startling the man into jumping up, mouth opening to shout.

“Recognize this?”

Li Yan spoke.

“I know yo…”

The man cursed halfway before suddenly stopping. He rubbed his eyes, looked closely at the Barrett, and then fearlessly moved closer. He scrutinized it, especially the trigger, before standing up straight.

“What do you need?”

“I want to purchase a fourth-grade ability potion from Yunhai Pharmaceuticals.”

The man hesitated for a moment: “Even if you are from the board of directors, we don’t have the authority to sell you such a thing. However…”

“Go on.”

Li Yan was straightforward; the stuff Yu Shu had left behind was doing a good job opening doors for him, which was quite excellent, considering she had vanished from this world for several years already.

“I can apply to the headquarters, after all…”

The man glanced at Li Yan: “There hasn’t been any news from Miss Yu Shu for a long time; I believe someone will be willing to negotiate with you.”

“Please do~ I’ll wait here. Also, could you pay this middleman his referral fee?”

Actually, Li Yan had been bluffing the hunchbacked monkey; he had no idea the Yu Shu’s card was so effective.

“Alright.” No sooner had the man led the hunchbacked monkey away than Li Yan had a start.

He took out the omnipotent Tactical Spider he had purchased from Black Star Battle Carriages from the Seal Space, with over a dozen unanswered red communication requests on it.

The signature was Qiao Xing.