by <unknown>
Lei Chenghu said solemnly, "The guards of the Thick Soil Sector were wiped out, suggesting that the enemy was very strong. It seems that the main forces of the Covenant Alliance that we've been worried about have finally emerged!"
(End of Volume VI: Imperium)
Chapter 2691: Gao Huan and Song Jingang (Beginning of Volume VII: Covenant Alliance) |
Three days earlier, in the camp of the fourth regiment of the garrison of the Thick Soil Sector…
Gao Huan tried to control his muscles and stand up, only to fall into his vomit yet again.
As if ten thousand burning needles were poking his eyes, he saw Jiang Xue's face that he had been dreaming about again…
The medic said that he had recovered. All his broken cerebral nerves had been connected, and his burnt brain was healed. However, only Gao Huan knew that he was sicker and sicker, because everybody, including the man who was roaring at him and who was as brawny as a gorilla, looked more and more like Jiang Xue, his wife.
But the smell from the gorilla's mouth slightly woke Gao Huan up and made him realize that it was not his wife but his boss, Song Jingang, who was a captain of the regiment.
"Captain Song, be smart."
Gao Huan heard the man behind the desk speaking in a creepy tone. "Don't you know what's going on? We're in a reform…"
"F*ck reform! F*ck the emperor! F*ck Lei Chenghu! F*ck Li Yao!"
The captain threw profanities as skillfully as usual before he bashed the desk and shouted, "I don't care if you have reformed or not! I simply dislike you, you shameless traitor!"
"Ah."
The man behind the desk said, "Are you going to avenge General Yun? I never knew that you were so loyal to General Yun and your family."
"F*ck the general! F*ck the family!"
The captain roared again, "I never care about the family or any jerk that suddenly became my boss because of the superior's command. I simply hate the traitors like you. You're even more disgusting than this drunkard!"
The captain pointed at Gao Huan, and Gao Huan managed a smile, but the captain simply spat again.
"What can I do?"
The man behind the desk crossed his fingers without being infuriated. He continued unhurriedly, "You know what General Yun did. When the whole expedition army was undergoing the reform, he hoped to instigate a few officers from the four families to hijack a few starships and escape back to the territory of the four families… Tsk, tsk, tsk. How idiotic. If he had succeeded, those starships would've been destroyed on the way, and too many innocent people would've died because of him, including you and me. Don't forget that we're both from the four families!"
"Is that why you ratted in the military department and sold out the fourth regiment?"
The captain roared, "All the people with the surnames Li, Song, Yun, and Dongfang in the fourth regiment have been arrested!"
"Calm down. They're not arrested. They are only isolated for investigation. After it's figured out who's involved in General Yun's defection plan, the rest will be set free."
The man behind the desk smiled and said, "The new emperor is about to be coronated. In this subtle situation, isolation is good for them. It's better than them talking to other people about their plan. General Yun and I are brothers, but to save more brothers, I had to do what I did."
"Hehe. You had to? I hardly think so. You saved the lives of so many brothers, but more importantly, you proved your loyalty to the reformists, my 'acting commander'!"
The captain sneered. "If you're having such a thriving career among the reformists, why on earth did you get me out of the dark dungeon? Keep isolating me! Let the dogs of the military department bite me! Shoot me with General Yun if you want!"
"Please, Brother Jingang. I don't know why you're so prejudiced against me. I thought we were good bros in the same trench."
The acting commander opened his hands and said sincerely, "Listen, I want to save you. I really do. Do you have any idea how many people you've pissed off? Many of them are trying to kill you for your association with the four families!
"I want to save you. In three days, the new emperor will be crowned, and he will definitely pardon many people. By then, General Yun's defection will be unimportant. No other people will be involved.
"But there are three days to go. We have to survive these three days. You have no idea how much pressure I'm bearing and how many people want to quietly kill you.
"I need a reason to protect you, so I said to them that Song Jingang's team was the best reconnaissance team in the fourth regiment—no, the whole garrison of the Thick Soil Sector—and that this goddamn mission could only be accomplished by him. So, instead of torturing you in the dark dungeon and killing you for no good reason, they'd better set you free because I needed you!
"This is the last chance for you and your team. Do you understand?"
"Hold on a second…"
The captain asked, "How is it related to my team? Most of the soldiers from my team are not from the four families."
"But some of them are."
The acting commander said, "Besides, if their captain has been conspiring with the four families, they will all need some vetting and purging, won't they?"
The captain gnashed his teeth. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not threatening, but persuading."
The acting commander said, "Or rather, not persuading, but begging. I'm begging you to hold back your temper and get your a*s out of here with your team to accomplish this mission. Only in such a way can you save yourself as well as your team!"
After a long silence, the captain said solely, "You only took the mission because you were eager to make contributions as a newly-appointed commander, and you're asking us to carry out the risky mission for you so that you can be promoted, right?"
The acting commander smiled. "Brother Jingang, it's a miracle that you're still alive with your meanness."
After another long silence, the captain clenched his fists but eventually lost his spirit. "I'll need a Supersensitive Agent."
"He's right before you."
The acting commander pointed at Gao Huan and said, "He's the best Supersensitive Agent in the fourth regime. Everybody says that he has a dog nose. He can detect the weakest changes over the longest distance better than any magic equipment can."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The captain jumped to his feet. "Everybody knows that he is completely ruined after his wife was taken by the people of the Covenant Alliance! His brain was burnt by excitants and industrial alcohols! You want me to take this Drunk Cat to investigate the Unchaotic Valley, the most dangerous place on this planet? He'll only get everyone killed! He's still drunk even now!
"I said that soldiers should not be married, and even if they are, a married couple should not be put in the same unit. Look at him! He used to be my best soldier! Drunk Cat, do you hear me? I'll be happy if you can rise and punch me!
"He can't work anymore. Just let him rest in the hospital before he drowns himself in alcohol. Where is Yun Hao? He's a Supersensitive Agent too. Get him for me!"
"I don't think I can. You know how he's related to General Yun. He's a dangerous suspect."
Pausing for a moment, the acting commander said, "Also, he tried to escape during the isolation, and he cursed even more badly than you did. So, his interrogators… Anyway, he's not dead yet, but he'll probably be in the ICU for half a month."
The captain's eyes bulged. "You son of a bi*ch…"
"Calm down, Brother Jingang, the lives of many people, including Yun Hao's, is in your hands. Think before you do anything!"
The acting commander said, "Also, Gao Huan is not as unworthy as you describe. He has recovered, and the medic proves that he can return to work now. Also, he's not drunk. It's just the side effects of the drugs. He'll be used to it soon."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The captain was suspicious. "Drunk Cat, do you know who you are and who I am?"
"Yes,
boss!"
Gao Huan finally struggled back to his feet from his vomit. He stood at attention and saluted. "I… I'm Gao Huan, and you're Song Jingang, my boss!"
"Ha!"
The captain grew excited. "This is the only good news that I have today. Gao Huan, you're finally sober! Like I said, women are just like clothes, and you can always get a new one if you lost her. You've been drunk for half a year. That was really embarrassing…"
Bam!
When the captain said "if you lost her", Gao Huan's pupils constricted, feeling that the nerves in his head had broken again. He could not control himself at all when he lunged at the captain.
Then, he heard the sound of his fist smashing the captain's face and almost breaking his bones.
The captain then roared desperately, "F*ck!"
Chapter 2692: Unchaotic Valley In the Mist |
When Gao Huan woke up again, he found himself in a light tank, which was crowded with smelly soldiers, making the cabin smell like a can that had been sour for half a month in a hot summer.
His itching skin reminded him of what happened just now. Infuriated, the captain shot him with a water gun for half an hour and finally washed the filth and the drunkenness off from him.
Gao Huan was finally back to himself now, and he could more or less distinguish the fuzzy faces of the companions next to him now: Bug, Leech, Black Leopard, One-eyed Tiger… All of them were his comrades who had been fighting with him.
Their clothes were ragged and sloppy, making them look more like beggars than the elite soldiers of the fourth regiment, but the same tattoos on their chests spoke of their toughness in silence. It was a burning saber that pierced through a black heart, with "Never To Forgive" engraved on the saber.
It was the emblem of their battle unit.
Gao Huan had the same emblem imprinted on his chest too.
Of course, there was also their beloved boss, Song Jingang, the captain of the team who had been secretly addressed as "gorilla king".
"Cheer up, you a*sholes! Where's your spirit! Now, listen to me!"
The captain roared. As a matter of fact, occasions were rare when the gorilla king did not roar.
"The Unchaotic Valley used to be the largest city on this planet hundreds of years ago. It was razed to the ground last time the Covenant Alliance invaded, and when we reclaimed the Thick Soil Sector, it was sabotaged and completely ruined by the Covenant Alliance again!
"Not only has the Covenant Alliance destroyed everything in the Unchaotic Valley, but they also planted infinite landmines and automatic defense rune arrays in the place. There might even be the remaining soldiers of the Covenant Alliance in the city. It can't be helped. We've been marching too fast to examine every inch of land on every planet. God knows if the lunatics of the Covenant Alliance are still active in some of their hideouts!
"Anyway, the Unchaotic Valley is the most dangerous place on this planet. The military department had been ignoring the place until a fog rose there a week ago.
"The uncanny fog covers hundreds of square kilometers and blocks all kinds of probe magic equipment. It cannot be driven apart with weather weapons. The military department suspects that someone is behind it.
"Given that the garrison of the Thick Soil Sector is short of hands, and they're busy in political struggles, no large starships can be deployed to investigate the fog. So, they can only send a team of unlucky b*stards to figure out the cause of the fog!
"Yes, bingo! We're exactly those unlucky b*stards. It's us again! It's always us! I believe that you're all used to it. So, no more complaints. Just shut up!
"Right, there's a piece of good news. Oh, maybe it's a bad one. Anyway, the Drunk Cat is back. Are you sober, Drunk Cat?"
"Yes, boss."
Gao Huan said, "I'm wide awake. What about you? Is your nose still at the right place?"
"Ohhhhh!"
The soldiers chuckled. Some raised their thumbs at Gao Huan, and some whistled at him. "Welcome home, Drunk Cat. Hitting the gorilla king the moment you're back, you do have balls!"
Even Song Jingang laughed at him. "You f*cking… Forget it. You can read the details of the mission on the report. All in all, don't play a hero, and don't do anything stupid. Nothing is worth dying for, do you understand?"
"Got it!"
The soldiers of the team roared crazily.
Smelling the stink, Gao Huan felt that his every cell was waking up. For a moment, he did forget his wife's face. He put on a smile while he took the blocking agent.
"Drunk Cat, what are you taking? Sh*it. Is it medical alcohol?"
"Flea", his life-and-death brother, approached him and smelled the blocking agent in his hand. His eyes bulged. "You're still drinking?"
"It's fine. The medic gave it to me. The gorilla king knows it too."
Gao Huan said, "You know my conditions. The stimulation of such an extent cannot affect my brain at all right now. It will only keep me refreshed so that I can carry out my talents as a Supersensitive Agent."
After a brief silence, Flea asked prudently, "Drunk Cat, you still haven't forgotten… Jiang Xue yet?"
Gao Huan grinned. "How could I? I can accept if she were killed on the battlefield, but she was captured by the Covenant Alliance. She must be alive. I have to save her. I will save her!"
"But…"
Flea couldn't help but suggest, "You know what will happen to the prisoners of the Covenant Alliance. She must've been deprived of her humanity even if she's alive!"
"That's fine. I'll remind her of everything."
Drinking up the medical alcohol, Gao Huan leaned against the cold wall and mumbled, "I'll save her and help her remember everything."
Flea sighed and smiled bitterly. "You should be called 'Love God' instead of 'Drunk Cat'. I finally understand why Jiang Xue fell in love with you, of all people in this team."
Gao Huan smiled. Unwilling to continue the topic, he asked, "What has happened outside when I was in the hospital? Our brother troops seem to be in a low morale."
"That's right. Too many things happened in the past year."
Flea said, "The reformists and the four families have been fighting vehemently and the situation is capricious. Today, the people from the four families may get control of supplies and try to starve the troops that are not loyal to them, but the next day, the reformists may defeat them and decide to purge all the officers that are from the four families. A week ago, our captain joined a defection group of the four families in his stupidity, hoping to escape back to his hometown with his trusted subordinates and the military secrets of the Thick Soil Sector, only to be caught by the reformists right on the spot. As a result, many people in our team are now kept isolated for investigation.
"All in all, the gorilla king is not wrong. The emperor is an a*shole. Soon, the Imperium will have two emperors, so double a*sholes! How can you keep a high morale when you don't know who you're serving?
"The situation in the Thick Soil Sector is not the worst. I was told that the troops of the reformists and those of the four families even attacked one another in other Sectors, completely forgetting that they were both parts of the expedition army.
"Thankfully, the Covenant Alliance has been crushed by us. Otherwise, if the Covenant Alliance sends an army back, the Imperium will have to give away the hundred Sectors that it has swallowed in the previous counterattack, and the whole expedition army will be wasted!
"Forget it. None of that is our business. For the soldiers like us, we better seize the day while we're still alive and make sure that we kill at least one enemy before we die!"
Flea laughed innocently, and so did Gao Huan.
He did not really care about bulls*it like morale, reform, Kurfürst, or the emperor. He was just making a conversation with Flea.
He wasn't scared of death either. Having been in the expedition army for so many years, he had already turned numb.
The only thing that he cared about was Jiang Xue, his wife.
; Jiang Xue must be alive, whatever she had turned into.
So, he could not die. He must rescue Jiang Xue, or die together with her.
"Wait for me, Jiang Xue. I'm sober now. I'll get you out soon."
Gao Huan rubbed the mini jade chip on his neck that stored the videos and photos of him and his wife. If possible, he really wanted to implant the jade chip into his flesh.
Boom!
The dull noises of air currents came from the outside.
Gao Huan finally realized that the light tank they were on was actually loaded on a flying carrier.
"Hurry up, you gutless maggots! Inject buffer gel to your butts!"
The captain roared, "We've arrived at our destination, and we'll land for reconnaissance in ten seconds!"
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The deck of the carrier was slowly opened, and fifteen light tanks fell like dumplings. The dazzling exhaust flames that they spurted out tore the intense fog apart and lowered their speed, until they landed in the hazy Unchaotic Valley.
Without any instruction from their captain, the lazy soldiers suddenly turned into the most vigilant wolves and tigers. They put on crystal suits the moment they jumped out of their tank as they protected the tank and pressed into the fog.
Chapter 2693: Sacrifice |
The Unchaotic Valley in the fog was like a physics nightmare.
Pale flames flickered in the debris that collapsed hundreds of years earlier, staring at the scouts as if the eyes of countless ghosts that were still alive.
The remains of battle puppets, crystal tanks, and starships were all over the place. Most of them were left hundreds of years previously and therefore were rusty and moldy. At first look, they looked like the rotting internal organs of a behemoth that were emitting a disgusting spell.
Even crystal tanks and crystal suits could not prevent the smell. Or maybe… that was fear.
Sitting at the center of a reconnaissance car, Gao Huan put a dark cold cover on his head and detected the unusual changes deep inside the fog with the talents of a Supersensitive Agent.
