Midnight Meeting!

Late at night, at the South Bank Fortress.

The military command center urgently convened a meeting.

"The Sharp Blade Squad has been out of contact for an hour now. All twenty-three martial artists in the squad have lost contact. We're still trying to re-establish communication from the vehicle."

Inside the meeting room, an elder in charge of wilderness reconnaissance spoke: "The Sharp Blade Squad has six Intermediate Battle Generals, four Junior Battle Generals, and thirteen High-level Warriors. Everyone, tell me what to do."

"Keep trying to contact them. Immediately dispatch forty armed helicopters loaded with armor-piercing rounds to search outward from the Sharp Blade Squad's mission location. At the same time, mobilize communications satellites to thoroughly scout that area. We must find the Sharp Blade Squad, dead or alive."

A voice like metal and stone, deep and forceful, rang out from the center of the meeting.

The speaker was none other than Xu Yong of Shan City.

This middle-aged commander had brows as sharp as swords, his military uniform crisp and without a single crease. He stared straight ahead, exuding an aura of iron and blood.

Sitting there, he gave off a towering, immovable presence.

Deputy Chief of Staff of Great Xia's nine secret forces.

Beyond that, he was also the eighth Intermediate War God of Great Xia, a peak combatant ranked in the top hundred on the War God list.

"I agree!"

"Agreed!"

"I agree too. The Sharp Blade Squad is the elite of the Iron Dragon Army. We absolutely cannot give up on them easily."

As soon as Xu Yong, the War God, spoke, everyone in the meeting unanimously consented.

Over the past year and more, they had held their ground through countless beast horde attacks by relying on unity and a spirit of never abandoning their own.

If not for holding fast to such convictions, these shelters, fortresses, and cities would not have survived to this day.

"Commander Xu, should we mobilize rockets for a saturation bombardment of that area?" a combat staff officer asked.

"No!"

Xu Yong directly denied it. "Until we have news of the Sharp Blade Squad, no one acts recklessly."

"But if there's a beast horde gathering there, we could strike first..."

"There is no 'but'! I said no action!!"

Everyone fell silent.

The room was dead quiet.

All eyes were on this Intermediate War God, well aware of his domineering nature.

Not to mention that the Sharp Blade Squad was an elite unit Xu Yong had personally trained.

Even if it were any other squad, with their lives or deaths unknown, he would not rashly bomb.

"Then should we dispatch reconnaissance planes and bombers with live ordnance to scout?"

"No need. Just bring my personal aircraft. We depart in one hour!" Xu Yong said coldly.

He stared at the combat screen before him, mentally preparing for the worst.

"No, that area has suspected Lord-level Monster activity. You can't risk yourself," a staff officer interjected.

Xu Yong frowned slightly. "Am I the highest commander of Shan City, or are you?"

"..."

As silence fell again, Xu Yong spoke: "That Silver Moon Giant Wolf is barely a Mid-tier Lord. Its strength is far below mine. As long as I'm careful of the surrounding beast hordes, I won't have any problems. Besides, that area is only a few hundred kilometers from Shelter No. 057. At my speed, I'll get there quickly."

"Commander Xu, I'll go with you."

A crisp, resolute female voice rang out in the meeting room.

Everyone looked up. It was the female War God seated at Xu Yong's left.

Mu Bingyao, one of Great Xia's seventeen Primary War Gods.

Summoned in the dead of night, she had only had time to throw on a trench coat over a thin, V-neck white t-shirt that hugged her full figure, making her already ample chest even more prominent.

Her gaze swept across the room, and her full, slightly pouty red lips parted: "With Commander Xu and me going to scout together, what else is there to worry about?"

Seeing the female War God speak, everyone finally relaxed.

"No, Bingyao, you have to stay and command the overall situation!" Xu Yong shook his head, rejecting Mu Bingyao's suggestion.

"I'll head into the wilderness alone. There won't be any real danger. Besides, several main regiments under our nine secret forces are stationed there. If we can't attack, we'll fall back and defend."

"Fine, I won't push it then!"

Mu Bingyao's lips curled into a smile. Her voice was clear but not delicate, pleasant yet carrying a hint of softness, full and forceful, with crisp enunciation that gave a sense of solid confidence.

"Since no one has objections, let me lay out a few points."

"Before I leave, all shelters and fortresses in Shan City are to enter alert status."

The middle-aged man stood up, speaking each word deliberately.

"Chief Xu, I request permission to deploy all reconnaissance units under my Dark Eagle Army." A middle-aged officer spoke up. As Deputy Army Commander of the Dark Eagle Army, it was naturally his responsibility.

"No need. Your reconnaissance units will continue monitoring beast activity within a three-hundred-kilometer radius of Shan City, providing real-time intel to the martial artists."

Xu Yong looked at the deputy commander and said earnestly, "Your information is critical. Do not be negligent."

"Understood!" The deputy commander nodded.

Seeing no one else had anything to say, Xu Yong began issuing orders.

"The Sharp Blade Squad will serve as our military district's vanguard. Behind them will follow the War Dragon Regiment of the Iron Dragon Army, the Owl Wolf Regiment of the Blood Wolf Army, and six armored regiments under the Dark Eagle Army.

These eight reinforced regiments are key to whether we can establish a defensive line deep in the wilderness and successfully relieve pressure on Shan City and its surrounding fortresses. There must be no negligence."

"Immediately contact all martial artists from the Long Blade, White Leaf, Azure Wolf, Dragon Claw, and Dragon Breath squads—who entered the wilderness alongside the Sharp Blade Squad—and order them to abandon all reconnaissance and search missions for now. They are to fall back, merge with the follow-up forces, set up defensive positions on the spot, and await further orders."

"Finally, steel-structured roadblocks and high-voltage electric fences must be erected in front of the positions. Specially reinforced steel caltrops and trenches... are also to be arranged one by one."

"The Rocket Force, Army Aviation Regiment, logistics, medical units... all are to be in position, ready at all times for a major battle..."

"..."

In the silent hall, only Xu Yong's voice could be heard.

The only other sound was the rustling of pens.

As Xu Yong spoke, the intelligence officer seated behind him scribbled rapidly on paper.

The rest listened with rapt attention.

Because every single command concerned the safety of Shan City.

Not a single mistake could be tolerated.

"That's all for now."

"Yes, sir!" The staff officer immediately acknowledged and withdrew.

A heavy silence settled over the hall.

Everyone stared straight at Xu Yong, not uttering a word.

"Now that we've finished discussing the Sharp Blade Squad, let's move on to some other pressing matters."

Swish!

At that, all attendees lifted their heads, eyes fixed intently on Xu Yong.

"Tongwei, you go first."

Under Xu Yong's gaze, Director Qi of the Shan City Intelligence Office stood up.

He held a black folder in his hands, filled with the latest intelligence—

"According to reports, traces of a Lord Monster have been discovered in the mountain range bordering Shan City and E Province. And not just there—along the borders with Chuan, Yun, and Guizhou provinces, signs of Lord-level Monsters have also been found..."

"Dragon King, deputy commander of the Night Mercenary Group, and the strategist Chen Xuan are leading one hundred and six battle generals in clearing monsters within the wilderness zone. They are expected to arrive at South Bank Fortress within days..."

"Additionally, Chief Ma Qingfeng, a High-level War God of the Capital Garrison Force, is currently communicating with Great Xia's eight major military districts to assemble forces for a second counterattack on Magic City. This appears to be preparation for establishing a base city later on..."

"..."

Passing by, begging for follows and collections.

Thanks to everyone for your monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and collections. Special thanks to the big shots Feng Di, Bing Han, Mo Tong, Ye Qiu... for your suggestions and opinions. I've been reading your comments and adopting them.