Fang Mo's heart tightened, but Kerry's signature aloof, haughty smile swiftly appeared on his face as he turned around.
Two men stood not far away, one tall and one short, both around thirty, still carrying the lingering scent of wilderness dust and residual energy.
When they saw Fang Mo turn around, familiar expressions appeared on their faces, and they quickly approached.
Fang Mo swiftly searched through Kerry's memory fragments. The tall one was Kent, the shorter, sturdier one Grant. They both belonged to the Fifth Reconnaissance Squad of the Third Pioneer Legion and were Level 4 Liquid Metal Warriors. Since their squad and Kerry's Seventh Squad handled similar missions, they had some private rapport.
"Kent, Grant, back from your mission?" Fang Mo imitated Kerry's somewhat cold but not impolite tone, his gaze sweeping over the tattered edges of their clothing. "Judging by the state of you two, it didn't go too smoothly?"
Kent scratched his messy short hair and spat. "Don't mention it! We just pulled back from High-Risk Zone 28. We nearly died there. Those mutant beasts were like lunatics—their aggression was more than twice what it was last month!" As he spoke, he habitually glanced toward Fang Mo's side, his brow furrowing slightly. "Huh? Where's that kid Rock? Where's he gone off to slack around this time? Weren't you two always inseparable?"
Fang Mo had long prepared for this. At those words, his expression immediately darkened, and his voice sank. "He... didn't make it back."
The air instantly froze.
Kent's expression stiffened, and Grant's weary smile vanished as well.
"At the edge of the Black Flame Mountain Range's core region, we were ambushed by a Transformation Realm mutant beast—a Crimson Sky Ape!" Fang Mo lowered his eyes, his tone heavy and sincere. This had happened in the first