B2-level Rescue Mission

January 15.

Wang Ye's third day after joining the Rescue Team.

"The rescuers' basic training ends here." After the final class of the afternoon, Tong Wu looked expressionlessly at the four of them. "Go back and prepare yourselves. Gather at the Defense Zone exit at six tomorrow morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Shuyi collapsed to the floor from exhaustion.

Following three academic prodigies was just too hard for her...

"Where are we going tomorrow, Team Leader Tong?" Huang Zirui asked.

"Wu Yi County," Tong Wu said.

"Is it a rescue mission or a sweep mission?" Huang Zirui's eyes gleamed.

"A B2-level Rescue Mission. Ordinary Rescue Teams aren't qualified to carry out Sweep Missions, not even in a Joint Operation." Tong Wu said, "The East Camp No. 3 Elite Rescue Team already completed one round of sweeping ten days ago."

Wang Ye made a note.

B-class meant Nightmare-level Monsters.

Over the past three days, Team Leader Tong had been honing the team's real-combat coordination.

The Rescue Team's main duties roughly fell into three categories: Devil Extermination Missions, Sweep Missions, and Rescue Missions.

Among them, Rescue Missions were the Rescue Team's primary work—searching the ruins of towns and villages destroyed by monsters for refugees who might have survived.

"The real wilderness." Wang Ye was looking forward to it.

Burial Mountain during the Rookie Trial had left a deep impression on him. Monsters had appeared one after another without end.

Though exhausting, the rewards had been astonishing.

The true wilderness lay far from the Base City, where monsters were densely distributed.

Even after a round of sweeping, there would still be monsters everywhere.

After one mission, setting aside the merit points gained and the refugees saved...

His Potential Points would definitely explode!

"Xiao Qin, let's go look up some information together." Wang Ye put away his notes and spoke to Yu Shuiqin.

"Mm, okay." Yu Shuiqin smiled brightly.

"Count me in." Huang Zirui smiled.

"The two of us are enough. Deputy captain, we'll send you the information later." Wang Ye pointed ahead. "Go help Song Shuyi. Tutor her a little—she's far too weak in every area."

With that, he left with Yu Shuiqin.

"...All right." Huang Zirui watched the two leave, holding their notebooks as they chatted and laughed, and sighed inwardly.

Before Wang Ye, he always felt like his strength had nowhere to go.

The archives room.

"East Pavilion City, Wu Yi County."

"One hundred and eighty-five kilometers from Eastern Base City."

"It has four subdistricts, eight towns, and seven townships under its jurisdiction, covering an area of 1,157 square kilometers..."

Wang Ye and Yu Shuiqin divided up the work, researching while taking notes.

They still needed to do their homework.

"It's such a big place." Yu Shuiqin's voice was soft as she asked Wang Ye, "How long will the Joint Operation last?"

"About a week."

Wang Ye did some calculations. "Split the area among four camps, and each Rescue Team will cover around three hundred square kilometers. What, worried you won't be able to shower?"

Yu Shuiqin always smelled so nice that he kept wanting to get closer and take another sniff...

"Mm." Yu Shuiqin answered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"There'll always be a way to deal with it." Wang Ye brushed it off. His relationship with Yu Shuiqin had not reached the point where they could discuss such things. He needed to maintain proper boundaries.

Though he really wanted to teach her how to wash.

"This Qin Yin Stream, as well as the remaining stretch of the Shu River, are highly dangerous. Then there are the mountain ranges around the towns and villages, especially the largest mountains. There could be Nightmare-level Monsters that slipped through the net."

"Mm, Wang Ye, do you think we'll run into any danger?"

"If the sky falls, Team Leader Tong will hold it up. By the way, we might split into pairs tomorrow. Let's be partners."

"Mm, okay."

Early morning.

Wang Ye finished a night of cultivation.

Second Order Gene Warrior, 56%!

First Order Esper, 61%!

Steady improvement.

In terms of a Gene Warrior's physical strength alone, he was now slightly inferior to Huang Zirui.

They had never competed, but it was obvious from the importance Team Leader Tong placed on him.

When it was four against one, Team Leader Tong mainly beat up Huang Zirui.

That was normal. Huang Zirui was excellent in both offense and defense, with top-tier equipment all over his body.

According to Xiao Qin, he had already used the most advanced K32 Body Strengthening Agent currently available.

It was not expensive—ten million per dose.

Huang Zirui's true combat power was probably comparable to the Third Order Gene Warrior assassin Yu Hanchao had sent three days ago.

But he was no match for Xiao Qin.

At this stage, Espers were unquestionably Heaven's Chosen.

If Huang Zirui faced Yu Shuiqin one-on-one, he would not even be able to get close to her.

Of course, Espers also had an obvious weakness.

Insufficient abilities.

After packing his bag and bringing a spare set of clothes, Wang Ye went to the Defense Zone cafeteria for some breakfast.

Ding.

Anabella: "Are you leaving?"

Wang Ye: "Yeah. I'll bring you a souvenir when I get back."

Anabella: "Really? That's great! (Happy)"

Wang Ye: "Nightmare-level snake skin. (Dog head)"

Anabella: "Be careful! When you get back, I'll reward you with a little date to celebrate your first successful mission. (Shy)"

Wang Ye: "In your dreams."

After chatting for a while, Wang Ye set off for the gathering point.

Of course, he did not think Anabella had fallen for him at first sight.

She was a celebrity.

She merely wanted a protective umbrella.

"Hello, good morning, Brother Sun." Wang Ye answered the familiar call with a smile.

Chief Instructor Sun had news.

"Okay, understood."

"I got it. Thanks, Brother Sun."

Brief and straightforward.

Chief Instructor Sun had called to tell him the Evolution Camp's final investigation results.

The matter had been cleared up. He was innocent.

The Base Defense Division was currently investigating Yu Hanchao. There would likely be results soon.

"Given Yu Hanchao's cunning, the gunman can't convict him, and the Devilkin can't either." Wang Ye understood this clearly.

It would not be easy to crush Yu Hanchao with trumped-up charges.

But with the way he operated, having done so many shady things in secret, they would surely uncover something.

At best, he would be suspended pending observation, with no hope of promotion for life.

At worst, he would be dismissed outright!

That would be enough.

As for the rest, he would settle accounts with him once he became an Intermediate Evolver!

Defense Zone exit. Assemble!

Three heavily armored large vehicles were parked there.

A Rescue Team off-road vehicle, a medical vehicle, and a supply collection vehicle.

The standard configuration for a Rescue Mission.

Acting captain Tong Wu wore his signature Ox-Horn Battle Armor and stood sternly in front of the vehicles, checking the time on his watch.

Wang Ye and the other two arrived one after another.

Unexpectedly, Yu Shuiqin carried only a backpack and wore light makeup.

Like a hibiscus rising from clear water, her delicate skin seemed soft enough to drip with moisture.

When she saw him, she smiled and waved.

"Did you wash seven days' worth all at once?" Wang Ye teased.

"No, I brought dry-cleaning spray." Yu Shuiqin said.

What the hell was dry cleaning?

Did she need someone to help scrub her?

"Ahem." Huang Zirui interrupted the somewhat ambiguous conversation between the two. "How did your research go yesterday?"

"Didn't Xiao Qin send it to the group yesterday?" Wang Ye looked at Yu Shuiqin.

Yu Shuiqin apologized, "After going back, I adjusted the formatting and organized it a little, so I sent it rather late."

Very conscientious, but unnecessary.

Song Shuyi would not understand it anyway... Wang Ye thought.

As for Huang Zirui, the guy had definitely done his own research.

5:58.

"Time's up. Get in the vehicle." Tong Wu opened the door and barked the order.

"Ah, Song Shuyi isn't here yet." Yu Shuiqin reminded him softly.

"The Rescue Team doesn't wait for people. Don't call her." Tong Wu waved a large hand expressionlessly. "Move!"

Huang Zirui had just connected the call and awkwardly hid his phone behind his back.

A clear voice came from the other end. "I'm coming, I'm coming! I'll be there right away, Brother Rui!"

Even without speakerphone, everyone could hear it clearly.

"She's here." Wang Ye had already spotted Song Shuyi in green from afar. With a backpack on her back, her body bounced violently as she ran.

She dragged a rolling suitcase with one hand, carried a bag in the other, and held her phone between her ear and shoulder, shouting as she ran in a flurry.

Sis, are you rushing to catch a high-speed train?