Celebration

"The heavy-lift helicopter towing team has completed towing operations for 'Mount Tai.' Preparing for takeoff."

After reporting, the helicopter pilots slowly lifted off, hauling Mount Tai into the air.

"This is Hong Kong correspondent Ruan Fangfang reporting live. After killing Bladehead, Mount Tai dragged its body to the shore, where the Guangzhou Military Region took custody of the kaiju corpse."

"Mount Tai is now about to return. Although the military has not disclosed the identities of Mount Tai's pilots, please allow me, on behalf of Hong Kong's 7.62 million residents, to offer them our heartfelt gratitude."

"We thank them, as well as the military aircraft and warships that came to our aid, for saving the lives of Hong Kong's 7.62 million residents."

"Thank you for preserving Hong Kong, this prosperous city, and for protecting our home. Thank you!"

The return journey took far longer than the trip there.

They had taken shortcuts on the way over in order to intercept Bladehead in time, passing directly over the city.

That had caused quite a commotion.

There was no need to hurry on the way back, so they followed the coastal defense line.

It could not be helped. The Shatterdome base was classified.

Even Mount Tai had avoided the sight of Dalian's citizens while being towed in.

As for its two pilots, Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan, there was even less to say.

Their security clearance was no lower than that of the commanders of the seven military regions.

Moreover, only a handful of people were qualified to access their detailed information.

There were only that handful of people in the entire country. One could imagine what kind of status they held.

"Top-Secret Personnel File"

Name: Xiao Shou

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Personality: Slightly introverted, kind and honest.

Rank: Private

Currently serving at the Dalian Shatterdome Base of Nation Z's Jaeger Combat Department.

One of Mount Tai's pilots.

Record: Victorious in his first battle against the Category 3 kaiju Bladehead.

Place of birth: Unknown (orphan)

Raised since childhood at the Dalian City Third Social Welfare Institute.

Family: Xiao Kaiyuan (former director of the Orphanage, deceased)

Chen Yuhe (owner of Grandma He's Noodle House, considered Xiao Shou's second guardian; mother of Lieutenant Colonel Jin Rong)

Jin Rong (Lieutenant Colonel and head of the Information Analysis Team at the Dalian Shatterdome Base)

Li Xintong (nicknamed Bao'er while at the orphanage; Xiao Shou's childhood companion)

Assessment: Outstanding character and extraordinary talent. His neural drift compatibility with Mount Tai can exceed 95%.

Recommendation: His willpower still requires tempering. In addition, due to his mild autism, he should receive regular psychological treatment.

"Top-Secret Personnel File"

Name: Xie Yushan.

Age: 22.

Sex: Female.

Personality: Tough, combative, and unwilling to admit defeat; cold on the outside but warm within.

Rank: Second Lieutenant.

Currently serving at the Dalian Shatterdome Base of Nation Z's Jaeger Combat Department.

One of Mount Tai's pilots.

Record: Victorious in her first battle against Bladehead.

Place of birth: Heishan, Liaoning.

Family: Father, Lin Huixin (commander of the Air Force escort fighter wing at the Dalian Shatterdome Base)

Mother, Xie Bo (deceased)

Maternal grandmother, Shi Fengmei (deceased)

Younger sister, Lin Yuxuan (half-sister through her father; currently a member of the Information Analysis Team at the Dalian Shatterdome Base Command Center)

Assessment: Strong-willed, but somewhat obsessive.

Recommendation: Her personality issues are suspected to stem from family factors. She should receive regular psychological treatment.

Dalian Shatterdome Base.

"Bay Six, open!"

"Towing team, listen up! Tow Mount Tai into Bay Six."

"Understood!"

Mount Tai landed heavily on the deck.

Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan did not need to pilot it. The automated tracks beneath the deck would drag Mount Tai into the Shatterdome's main hall.

The twelve escort fighters led by Colonel Lin Huixin had already returned when the battle ended.

The moment Xiao Shou climbed out of the cockpit and stepped onto the deck, his legs were so weak that he could barely stand.

He felt unsteady on his feet. This was more exhausting than running ten kilometers in full gear.

His head was spinning as well, an aftereffect of neural drift.

This battle had been fairly brief. Sometimes, fights lasted for hours, even half a day or an entire day.

Once they ended, the pilots would collapse straight inside the cockpit.

So Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan were actually doing fairly well.

The instant they set foot on the deck, the staff and soldiers there all saluted them in unison.

Xiao Shou was utterly flattered. He had never received such treatment in his life.

He froze on the spot, then hurriedly returned a rather imperfect military salute.

Before they could do anything else, a group of people came running out from Bay Six, cheering.

They hoisted Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan high into the air.

"Our heroes are back!"

"That was incredible!"

Everyone was beside themselves with excitement.

This battle meant that Nation Z's Pan-Pacific Defense Line was no longer a playground for kaiju.

They could no longer run wild in Nation Z without restraint!

Nearby, Lin Huixin watched Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

He did not dare approach his daughter to speak with her, afraid that it would affect Xie Yushan's mood.

Lin Yuxuan did not care about that. She immediately rushed forward and hugged her sister.

Xie Yushan did not push her away. It would have been unfair to redirect her hatred for her father abandoning her onto her younger sister.

Mao Shucheng and Zhu Qian also approached.

The crowd quickly parted to make way for them.

"Ha ha ha! You two, I have to tell you, I've never seen such a spectacular battle. Well done!"

Mao Shucheng stepped forward, seized Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan's hands, and spoke excitedly.

He had always been the kind of person who said whatever was on his mind.

Naturally, he would not force himself to suppress them or treat them harshly at a time like this.

Zhu Qian was grinning from ear to ear as well. For once, he even told Xiao Shou to keep up the good work.

Because of Mao Shucheng, Zhu Qian had always played the bad cop.

But now, he was equally generous with his praise for Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan.

After giving it considerable thought, Lin Huixin, who had been standing behind the crowd, finally stepped forward.

When Xie Yushan saw him approaching, she turned her head away.

Lin Huixin sighed inwardly at the sight.

Still, he walked over to Xiao Shou.

"I take back my inappropriate remarks from before and apologize to you. Thank you for your efforts alongside hers. You repelled the invader and reduced our casualties."

After saying that, Lin Huixin's gaze dimmed.

He truly was grateful to Xiao Shou and his daughter. Without Mount Tai holding the line, the military's casualties would likely have been severe.

When Shanlan had attacked Dalian before, the fighters deployed by the military had been his Falcon Squadron—twenty-two aircraft in total. In the end, only two survived, including his own.

Although the Jaeger Combat Department had kept him in Dalian afterward to rebuild the Falcon Squadron, they were no longer the comrades-in-arms he had known.

Without Jaegers, there was no choice but to fill the gap with human lives.

That was reality. Cruel reality.

"Colonel, please don't say that. If it hadn't been for you and your escort fighter wing, Mount Tai would not have won so easily."

Lin Huixin wanted to smile, but he could not. Who could understand his suffering?

"All right, enough about such unpleasant things. Today, I'll make an exception. Other than those on sentry duty, everyone can drink their fill! Let's celebrate properly!"

"Oh! Long live!"

They were soldiers, and soldiers were not allowed to drink. Since the Dalian Shatterdome Base had been established, many of them had not even returned home once.

Most of them worked day and night within this base.

Fortunately, they had delivered an answer that satisfied Nation Z and the world.

At a time like this, what was wrong with making an exception for once?