Combat Machine

Infinite Celestial Worthy.

A falling leaf swept past behind Daoist Wang's head, spinning away on a faint, desolate autumn breeze.

Was this the investigation team?

Where was the girl Zhou Zhengde and Wei Na had introduced to him for a date?

Just then, a pretty girl in a dress and thick high heels emerged from a nearby passage. She looked around while repeatedly covering and gently rubbing her stomach, carrying a faint scent of toilet freshener.

Wang Jixuan: ...

Ling Tong turned and walked back to the bench, and the C-Class Psionicist swiftly scrambled to his feet.

This middle-aged-looking Psionicist seemed physically even stronger than Wen Heisen. He followed behind Ling Tong, complaining nonstop:

"No! Ling Tong! Don't you have my biological energy waveform on record in your database? I was just joking with this young man, testing his strength! It was part of my mission! What did I do? What crime did I commit?"

"We haven't seen each other for only two years, Ling Tong! How could you forget such an important comrade-in-arms?"

"If I hadn't helped you carry that nuclear bomb to blow up that General-Class Blade Beast's nest back then, would you have escaped? Besides! We were notified about our team roster too! You have to compensate me for emotional damages!"

Ling Tong said calmly, "It was merely a stress response. I detected a mass of biological energy rapidly approaching. Don't forget the nature of this mission: psionic loss of control."

"Fine, fine! Since I'm a Psionicist, everything is my fault!"

The uncle-like Psionicist with a somewhat monkeyish face complained loudly, then frowned at Wang Jixuan.

Wang Jixuan did his best to relax and smiled at the man.

The latter took the initiative to extend his right hand.

"Hello, I'm Zheng Shiduo, a C-Class Psionicist. I'm here to investigate Psionicist violations at Fortress No. 76! Don't worry, I'm not on the same side as the two Psionicists you killed. I serve in the Black Bear Special Forces of the Ancient Basin War Zone. Eighty percent of us are military personnel. The situation here is a little complicated; they always like to exercise overlapping command over us."

"Hello."

Wang Jixuan lightly shook his hand.

Neither of them tested the other. Daoist Wang was working hard to restrain himself.

Then Wang Jixuan proactively stepped back two paces and smiled. "You two, I'll go meet my friend first."

Ling Tong looked toward the girl walking over and softly asked, "Are you... on a blind date?"

"Not exactly a blind date. Just getting acquainted," Wang Jixuan briefly explained. "Captain Zhou introduced her."

Ling Tong had already seated herself elegantly, picked up the novel, and crossed her long, slender legs again. Looking at the book, she softly said:

"You can treat what just happened as a rehearsal. Recreate it, and the results should be quite good."

Zheng Shiduo seemed to understand something. He let out a "wow," his tiny mung-bean eyes filled with the gleam of wisdom.

Wang Jixuan smiled and walked toward the girl, signaling for her to chat somewhere farther away, preferably away from this Psionicist.

He could still hear Zheng Shiduo teasing Ling Tong.

"Ling Tong, you've grown up! Hahaha! No wonder your reaction was so intense just now. Your emotions were affected!"

"Captain Zheng, after two years apart, you've become even more long-winded."

"This young man is very handsome, and his body is great too! Besides investigating Psionicist violations at Fortress 76, my mission is to make contact with him and study where his power comes from. Why don't you make a little sacrifice for my mission and get closer to him?"

"An elegant gentleman in his forties should have learned when to shut up."

"Hahahaha! Are you blushing? Hahahaha!"

"Level 1 Destruction Laser Cannon ready."

"Holy shit! It was a joke! You're a Terror Mech Pilot Candidate! You've devoted everything to Human Civilization! What shitty love! We don't need it!"

"Stand down."

"Whew—why did the war zone transfer you here? Are they planning to blow up Fortress 76 and build a new one? Do we really not need to evacuate this place beforehand?"

Zheng Shiduo's muttering gradually faded.

At the entrance of the Security Office, Zhou Zhengde hurried over with several young Security Team members.

Wang Jixuan looked at the pretty girl beside him.

She raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and quietly asked, "Hello, Team Leader. This is our first meeting..."

"Well, we may not be very compatible. I mean, personality-wise."

Wang Jixuan said seriously:

"I still have some things to take care of, so..."

The girl froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "All right, then we'll talk again if we have a chance to meet in the future. That's all for today. Goodbye!"

She turned and ran toward the nearest passage, her high heels clicking rapidly against the ground.

Apparently, her stomach still did not feel very well.

Wang Jixuan let out a breath of relief.

Though there had been a slight twist in the process, he had successfully declined the kind offer.

His Primordial Yang remained steady, and his Dao heart undisturbed.

Still, there was a powerful Psionicist in this investigation team... Weren't all Psionicists made by the 13th Institute? Could they really be trusted?

Daoist Wang considered countermeasures with no small amount of concern.

Half an hour later.

Inside the meeting room of the 13th Floor Security Office.

Zhou Zhengde sat at the head of the table, organizing the documents in his hands while his subordinates busied themselves.

Lin Bo placed copies of the documents before the other six attendees. Lin Xiong filled seven teacups with scalding hot water, while Lin Yong adjusted a projector that had not been used in a long time.

Soon, Lin Bo, Lin Xiong, and Lin Yong left the meeting room and lined up outside the door, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Zhou Zhengde rose and gave a military salute.

Other than Wang Jixuan, the remaining five people simultaneously stood and returned the salute.

Wang Jixuan quickly copied them.

"Hello, everyone. I am Zhou Zhengde, captain of the 13th Floor Security Team at Fortress 76. I hereby announce the official establishment of the Incident 1023 investigation team!"

Zheng Shiduo and the three other men and women in military uniforms applauded.

"Please take your seats!"

Zhou Zhengde said seriously:

"Before the meeting officially begins, let's introduce ourselves... This is Mu Liang, deputy leader of the 13th Floor Security Team's patrol unit. He knows almost everything about Lower City. I once sent him down there to carry out missions."

He helped Wang Jixuan conceal his former identity as Zhou Tiantian.

Wang Jixuan took the initiative to say, "I'm fairly familiar with the terrain in Lower City."

Zhou Zhengde nodded and looked toward the ponytailed girl with the Mechanical Arm at his left.

"Ling Tong," she softly introduced herself, "9th Mech Brigade, Eastern Frontline of the Ancient Basin War Zone. Major Rank."

Zheng Shiduo raised a hand. "Let me add something. Ling Tong is extremely strong. Don't let her youth fool you; she was already on the battlefield at fourteen. If any of you run into danger later, just shout, 'Sister Tong, save me!' She'll pull you out of a Blade Beast Swarm in one piece. I've experienced it personally."

Several people smiled at once, and most gazed at Ling Tong with respect.

Zhou Zhengde added, "Major Ling Tong is a new-generation Terror Mech Pilot Candidate, as well as the leader and commander of this investigation team. We'll all follow her orders from here on... Captain Zheng, your turn."

Everyone nodded together.

"Good! Hello, everyone. My name is Zheng Shiduo—not Serious Business, but Zheng Shiduo."

Wang Jixuan could not help scratching his brow.

Zheng Shiduo cleared his throat, winked at the others, and said with a grin:

"I'm a C-Class Psionicist. We Psionicists are broadly divided into four major categories: telekinetic Psionicists, body-enhancement Psionicists, mutant Psionicists, and people like me—Balanced Psionicists. I have a little ability in every area, though none of them stand out. Still, my overall combat power is pretty good.

"This time, I was ordered by the Ancient Basin War Zone Command Center and Professor Zhuang to come here and assist everyone in investigating Psionicist violations at Fortress 76.

"Don't doubt my loyalty to the military. I've participated in more than one hundred and twenty battles against Blade Beasts, carried out nineteen decapitation missions, and cooperated with Major Ling Tong alone on three occasions.

"Professor Zhuang was hospitalized because of one phone call from Captain Zhou. His left testicle is currently being gripped in D5 Commander-in-Chief's iron hand and could be crushed at any moment. So I came here to save... Professor Zhuang's testicle, so that he won't have to play Metal Slug at his age."

The three elite military officers beside him instinctively raised their hands to their foreheads.

Ling Tong frowned. "Can you fix that habit of thinking you're funny?"

"Can't help it. Psionicists all have some degree of mental problem."

Zheng Shiduo pointed at his head, then looked toward Wang Jixuan.

He said, "We have a second Psionicist here, but I won't say who it is... I also have another mission. Professor Zhuang entrusted me to observe this suddenly emerged Psionicist. If everyone gets along well, give me some blood or bodily fluid to take back. Then this little mission will count as complete."

Wang Jixuan curled his lip slightly.

Zhou Zhengde said, "All right, Captain Zheng. You've introduced enough. Next are these three..."

The two male and one female elite officers introduced themselves.

They were all officer-rank personnel temporarily transferred down from the frontline. They were battle-hardened and possessed exceptional administrative ability.

Then Zhou Zhengde looked toward Ling Tong.

Ling Tong nodded, rose, and walked to the end of the conference table. Her finger lightly slid across a cross-shaped control. Her Mechanical Arm had already taken command of the projector, transmitting the files on its own as a holographic projection appeared in the center of the table.

Photographs appeared one after another before everyone.

Burning wooden houses, black helmets and Combat Suits leaping through the night, footage from inside Black Fire Gang facilities, An Qian with her upper body blown away by a Sniper Rifle, Kong Nu, the fortress's Biological Affairs Minister, and more.

Ling Tong spoke quickly:

"I have three missions at Fortress 76.

"First, vacation. During the intense frontline fighting, I suffered Mental Interference from some Blade Beasts. I will recuperate at Fortress 76 and help defend the Outer Expansion Zone.

"Second, without killing too many Psionicists, eliminate the 13th Institute personnel threatening Captain Zhou and his mother, and remove Kong Nu himself along with his influence.

"Third, confirm whether Black Storm is harmful to the fortress.

"The third mission is now complete, with Captain Zhou acting as guarantor."

A small half of the photographs vanished from the projection, including the parts related to Black Storm.

Wang Jixuan did not feel relieved or offended. Perhaps it was because Ling Tong's tone was so calm.

Ling Tong continued, "I will carry out the first mission slowly and strive to complete my recuperation as soon as possible before returning to the frontline. I will resolve the second mission within twenty-four hours. We must follow one principle: compliant combat."

Everyone nodded together.

Ling Tong added, "I fight. You make the reports of that fighting compliant. Understood?"

Zheng Shiduo immediately jumped up, stood straight as a rod, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Understood!"

The other three elite soldiers stood and responded, "Understood!"

"Captain Zhou, please wait in the rear."

Ling Tong said:

"I will first investigate Lower City and confirm three matters, then pressure Kong Nu depending on the situation, or directly attack the 3rd Floor Psionicist's Home and eliminate the out-of-control Psionicists.

"Captain Zheng, due to your identity as a Psionicist, you need to surrender all communication devices. Now."

"All right." Zheng Shiduo nimbly took out a watch, a Text Exchanger, and an earring.

Ling Tong quietly watched him.

Zheng Shiduo spread his hands, sucked in a breath, and peeled two medicinal-patch-like slips of paper from beneath his armpits.

Wang Jixuan frowned at the sight.

"I detect one more signal source on you," Ling Tong said. "Your evasiveness and hesitation make me feel that your intentions are impure. This may endanger your life, Psionicist."

"This is humiliating! I have privacy too! Really!"

Zheng Shiduo gritted his teeth and muttered, then, under everyone's gaze, reached into the butt area beneath his waistband.

Pop!

Blushing, the skinny-monkey-like uncle placed a Crystal Butt Plug on the edge of the table.

The group instinctively retreated two steps. The three elite officers' faces were filled with shock.

Wang Jixuan nearly hurled a Bone-Piercing Nail at him.

Infinite Celestial Worthy.

He had been to the Pervert Zone in the City of Joy, so he understood instantly!

Even Ling Tong's beautiful face twitched slightly. "All right. Prepare for the Lower City investigation. Captain Zhou, I need Team Leader Mu Liang to serve as my guide."

"No problem," Wang Jixuan answered.

"Um," Zhou Zhengde raised his hand, "can I come too? I want to conduct an inspection, or something."

Ling Tong calmly said, "I acknowledge your Maternal Grandfather's contributions to Human Civilization, but I do not need a burden that must be looked after."

Zhou Zhengde hurriedly said, "I'm a good shot! I'm a soldier too!"

"I can protect him," Wang Jixuan said. "And his going to Lower City has meaning, not necessarily meaning related to combat."

Ling Tong considered it briefly. "Fine. Prepare for the operation."

Zhou Zhengde excitedly jumped up. "When?"

Zheng Shiduo stared at Wang Jixuan.

No, Ling Tong would actually change her mind?

Ling Tong raised three Mechanical Arm fingers that looked like works of art.

"Only three hours?" Zhou Zhengde hurriedly said. "Then I need to prepare quickly!"

The three fingers lowered one by one.

"The operation begins."